Front-line health-care workers in southern Ontario say the region’s measles outbreak has consumed their daily lives—mentally, emotionally, and physically. From the moment they wake until they fall asleep, many are immersed in treating and trying to contain a disease most had only read about in textbooks. Now, with over 3,000 cases across Canada—more than 2,000 of them in Ontario—the disease is not only resurging, but infecting even vaccinated individuals. Infected patients have unwittingly spread the highly contagious virus to those treating them, especially in the early days when the illness appears deceptively mild, often resembling a cold or the flu.
Among those impacted is Carly Simpson, a nurse practitioner who was stunned to find red splotches across her body after experiencing a sore throat, body aches, and fever. Diagnosed in mid-March, Simpson said measles was the last thing on her mind, especially since she had received three vaccine doses. Her symptoms were milder than most, likely due to her immunization, and her family remained unaffected. Still, she believes she was exposed by a patient who showed vague symptoms before the characteristic rash appeared, a common challenge for those on the front lines. Health workers must constantly question: is it just a cold, or something far more serious?
Shawn Cowley also fell ill despite being fully vaccinated. White spots inside his cheeks, followed by a spreading rash and fatigue, signaled measles—likely contracted through exposure at his son’s hockey tournament. Cowley, who plays a key role in emergency management at Southwestern Public Health, eventually informed colleagues of his diagnosis but admitted to feeling a sense of stigma. He expressed guilt over everyday activities he engaged in before showing symptoms, worried about the number of people he might have unknowingly exposed. For many caregivers, the virus’s virulence brings not just medical risk, but emotional burden.
In hospitals like St. Thomas Elgin General, the outbreak has strained resources and coordination. Chief of staff Dr. Erica Van Daalen called it a “slow burn,” requiring daily vigilance to safely manage and isolate cases. Fewer than seven per cent of Ontario’s infections have required hospitalization, but treating measles patients is labor-intensive. From ushering in masked individuals through back entrances to isolating them in negative pressure rooms, staff navigate logistics akin to a puzzle. Those rooms, designed to prevent contaminated air from spreading, are few and in high demand. Once a patient is discharged, rooms must sit empty to clear the air before undergoing deep cleaning.
Hospitals like Woodstock and Tillsonburg, without pediatric units, have had to transfer young patients or adapt emergency protocols. Registered nurse Sangavi Thangeswaran explained how exposure is minimized—even restroom trips are discouraged, replaced with commodes and urinals in isolation rooms. At Woodstock Hospital alone, 108 patients, including 55 children, have been treated since January. When all five negative pressure rooms are full, assessments move to the ambulance garage. The efforts have scaled up as needed, with more isolation rooms added at local hospitals like those in Ingersoll and Tillsonburg.
Decisions around discharge can be agonizing, especially for pediatric cases. Dr. Van Daalen said she often lies awake worrying about whether it’s safe to send a child home. Although severe complications from measles are rare, they can occur later, and continuous monitoring is essential. Dr. Ninh Tran, also involved in outbreak response, described the emotional toll from the early surge in cases. In late February, his health unit saw a near doubling of infections in just two weeks. The pressure to track, trace, and contain the virus weighed heavily, with anxiety mounting across teams. Yet, Tran emphasized the need for resilience, reminding himself and others that calm leadership was essential in navigating the crisis.
As of mid-June, the wave of infections appears to be slowing, offering a glimmer of hope. While cautious, Tran noted that the steady decline in new cases could indicate a shift in the outbreak’s trajectory. Health teams across Ontario remain on high alert, but for the first time in months, they’re beginning to feel cautiously encouraged.