An infant born prematurely in the western Canadian province of Alberta died as a result of measles, officials said Thursday, October 2nd—the first fatality linked to the resurgence of the disease in the country in the past year.
Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a statement that
a child, born prematurely after the mother contracted measles during pregnancy, died shortly after birth from measles.
LaGrange also warned that children under five, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risks from measles.
Canada, which declared measles eradicated in 1998 thanks to vaccinations, has recorded 5,006 cases of the disease since the start of 2025, most of which have been in the provinces of Alberta and Ontario. Among these cases, 88% have involved unvaccinated individuals.
The Canadian measles outbreak began in October 2024 in the eastern province of New Brunswick. It has disproportionately affected Mennonite, Amish and other Anabaptist communities, experts say, in part due to their lower vaccination rates.
The disease is a highly contagious respiratory virus spread through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or simply breathes. It causes fever, respiratory symptoms and a rash, but can also lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.
