Health IQ: Ontario child dies from the measles

Tragic measles death in Ontario

A child under five in Ontario has tragically died from measles, according to a report released May 16 by Ontario Public Health.

The child, whose specific location within Ontario was not disclosed, had not been vaccinated against the virus.

In Canada, the standard vaccination schedule for measles involves administering the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age, with a booster shot given after 18 months but before the child starts school.

“Our heart goes out to the family that has tragically lost their child. Our thoughts are with them as they navigate this challenging time,” a spokesperson for the province’s Minister of Health said in a statement.  “We remind all Ontarians to stay up to date with their vaccinations to ensure themselves, and their loved ones are protected against infectious diseases.”

Canada is seeing an increase in measles activity compared to 2023. The latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) shows that as of March 5, there have been 41 reported measles cases in Canada this year, which is already more than three times the number of cases reported last year.

Read more about the measles death in Ontario here.

Cancer projected to rise in 2024

The number of cancer cases and deaths in Canada is expected to increase this year because of a growing and aging population.

But despite this trend, the overall incidence rates of people diagnosed with and dying from cancer will continue to decline, according to the latest data from the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

The study, published on May 13, projected there will be 247,100 new cancer diagnoses and 88,100 cancer deaths in 2024. This is up from an estimated 239,100 cancer cases and 86,700 cancer deaths in 2023.

“Cancer has a major impact on the people and the economy of Canada. These estimates highlight where progress has been made to reduce those impacts, and where more attention and resources are needed,” lead author Dr. Darren Brenner, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, said in a Monday media release.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in Canada, according to 2021 data from Statistics Canada. An estimated two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and about one in four will die from cancer.

Read more about which cancer types are expected to rise in 2024.

— THE TOPIC —

Rising raw milk demand defies bird flu concerns

— WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING —

Despite official warnings amidst a bird flu outbreak in the United States, raw milk sales appear to be increasing.

Due to virus fragments found in unpasteurized dairy, on May 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautioned against consuming raw milk or related products.

But since March 25, when the bird flu virus was confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle for the first time, weekly sales of raw cow’s milk have risen compared with the same periods a year ago, according to the Associated Press.

“Right now our sales are up, we can’t keep it in stock,” Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm USA in Fresno, Calif., told Global News. “We’re in 550 stores right now and raw milk sales have never been higher and we’re sold out all the time.”

The sale of raw milk is legal in California and a handful of other states, and McAfee said sales have recently surged, driven by a growing belief in its “natural immune system properties.”

However, Jason Tetro, a microbiologist based in Edmonton and specialist in emerging pathogens, warned that raw milk does not have any specific helpful immune properties.

While raw milk sales are on the rise in the U.S., it’s a different story in Canada: selling unpasteurized milk is illegal nationwide. In Canada, all milk must undergo pasteurization before it can be sold, according to Health Canada.

In an email to Global News, a Health Canada spokesperson warned of the dangers of consuming raw milk in Canada.

“Drinking raw or unpasteurized milk comes with an increased risk of serious illness because it has not been pasteurized to eliminate harmful microorganisms,” a Health Canada spokesperson told Global News in an email on Friday.