The Durham Region Health Department is tracking at least four confirmed cases of measles in the Durham Region as of March 18, 2026. Health officials are urging residents to check their vaccination records and watch for symptoms after potential exposures at local clinics and on public transit.
All of the initial cases reported in this cluster involved children from the same household who had not been vaccinated. The health department is now performing contact tracing, which involves reaching out to anyone who may have been near these individuals while they were contagious.
Public health alerts have been issued for several locations, including the emergency department waiting room at Lakeridge Health Oshawa and the Ritson North Medical urgent care clinic. People who rode the Durham Region Transit 901 Simcoe bus line may also have been exposed to the virus.
Residents who visited these locations should monitor themselves for symptoms for up to 21 days after their visit. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can lead to serious health complications if it is allowed to spread.
Health officials are urging the community to ensure their vaccinations are up to date to help prevent the virus from spreading further. While vaccination programs have made measles rare in Canada, outbreaks can still occur when there are gaps in immunization coverage.
