An infant who was born premature and infected with the measles has passed away in southwestern Ontario, announced the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

In a statement, Dr. Kieran Moore said the infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

He added that while measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced “other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus.”

No further details about the infant’s death have been released out of respect for the family’s privacy.

Dr. Moore said measles poses a serious risk to unvaccinated individuals and infants and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, premature birth

See Full Page