With measles cases on the rise in Ontario, Niagara Health’s head of infectious diseases is encouraging residents to stay up-to-date on vaccinations.

Although it’s “hard to predict” if the region will see cases, “vaccination rates are always the key factor in the spread,” Niagara Health’s Dr. Karim Ali, Medical Director, Infection Prevention & Control and Head of Service Infectious Diseases, told Dear Niagara.

“Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, that spreads among persons very easily. The majority of cases happen to unimmunized individuals,” Dr. Ali said

Niagara Health’s infection prevention and control protocols are currently in place to ensure the safety of patients and staff, according to Dr. Ali.

Teams at Niagara Health also work closely with partners at Niagara Regional Public Health to ensure preparedness in case a patient with measles does occur.

“The current multi-jurisdictional outbreak in Ontario is concerning, given how close some of the regions are to us here. Cases have been reported in Haldimand Norfolk and Hamilton as well,” he said.

Earlier this month, Hamilton Public Health was investigating a confirmed case of measles in a child.

As of Feb. 20, Grand Erie Public Health was investigating an additional four cases of measles in Norfolk County and the County of Brant, the Brant County Health Unit said.

There are currently 57 confirmed cases in the Grand Erie region, which includes Haldimand County, Norfolk County, the City of Brantford, and County of Brant, the health unit said.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit also informed its community of a new measles exposure on Feb. 21.

In Ontario, 99 cases (67 confirmed, 32 probable) have been reported as of Feb. 12, according to data from Public Health Ontario.

To ensure measles doesn’t spread, vaccination rates of 95 per cent or higher are needed to ensure “high levels of community immunity,” according to Dr. Ali.

“Please ensure that you are up-to-date on your MMR vaccines,” he said.

The “hallmark” of measles is a fever, runny nose and eventually the development of a full body rash, especially in those who aren’t vaccinated, said Dr. Ali.

Those at the highest risk are unvaccinated children, elderly and pregnant individuals, he added.