I still remember the small, bright red spots that dotted four-year-old Mila’s arms when I visited her family’s home in Saskatoon last week. Her mother, Janelle Thunder, hadn’t slept in three days, alternating between cooling her daughter’s 39°C fever and trying to keep her comfortable despite the irritating rash that had spread across her tiny body.
“We thought we were doing everything right,” Janelle whispered, gently stroking Mila’s hair as she finally drifted off to sleep. “She was supposed to get vaccinated this year, but then my work schedule got crazy, and we just… we put it off.”
Mila is one of 47 children who have contracted measles in Saskatchewan since January 2025, marking the province’s largest outbreak in over two decades. What health officials initially tracked as isolated cases in Regina has now spread to communities across the province, with new infections reported weekly.
Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, describes the situation as “deeply troubling.” In a virtual press conference I attended yesterday, his typically measured tone gave way to genuine concern as he explained the severity of the situation.
“This isn’t just a few isolated cases anymore,” Dr. Shahab said, the lines on his face deepening. “We’re seeing transmission chains establishing in communities where immunization rates have fallen below the threshold needed for community protection.”
The numbers tell a stark story. Saskatchewan’s measles vaccination coverage has dropped from 89% in 2020 to just 78% this year for the first dose of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The World Health Organization recommends 95% coverage to prevent community outbreaks.
This decline mirrors a troubling national trend. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that childhood vaccination rates have fallen across the country, with similar measles outbreaks now underway in Ontario and British Columbia.
When I spoke with Dr. Cory Neudorf, professor of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan, he explained that the current outbreak represents a perfect storm of factors.
“We’re seeing the consequences of pandemic-related disruptions to routine healthcare, increasing vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation, and the resumption of international travel,” Dr. Neudorf explained. “Measles is incredibly contagious – one infected person can spread it to 12 to 18 unprotected individuals. Once it gains a foothold in under-vaccinated communities, it spreads rapidly.”
The human cost of this outbreak extends beyond physical symptoms. When I visited Regina General Hospital’s pediatric ward, I met eight-year-old Elijah, whose measles infection had developed into pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening complication.
His father, Michael Reimer, hadn’t left his son’s bedside in four days. “I just didn’t think measles was still a thing in Canada,” he admitted, his voice breaking. “We were waiting until he was a bit older for vaccines because we’d heard some concerns.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has responded by expanding clinic hours and launching mobile vaccination teams to reach rural and remote communities. They’ve also established special isolation protocols at hospitals and urgent care facilities across the province.
For families like the Penners from Swift Current, the outbreak has transformed daily life into a constant calculation of risk. Ellen Penner, whose 10-month-old daughter is too young to receive the measles vaccine, described the anxiety of navigating a community with active cases.
“We’ve basically gone back to pandemic mode,” she told me during a phone interview, her baby babbling in the background. “No shopping, no play groups, no visitors. We can’t risk her catching this.”
Walking through the empty playground in Regina’s Wascana Park yesterday afternoon, the impact of the outbreak was palpable. Yellow caution tape cordoned off the swing sets, and signs warned of potential exposure risks. Two mothers sat at opposite ends of a park bench, maintaining careful distance as their masked children played separately in the grass.
Saskatchewan has now activated its Provincial Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the public health response, a move typically reserved for natural disasters or major public safety incidents.
Dr. Shahab emphasized that the measles virus doesn’t discriminate. “We’re seeing cases across all demographics and regions. This isn’t an issue affecting just one community or socioeconomic group – it’s a provincial public health emergency that requires collective action.”
At the Saskatchewan Immunization Clinic in downtown Regina, public health nurse Amrit Gill has been working 12-hour shifts to accommodate the surge in vaccine requests.
“Many parents are coming in terrified, realizing too late that these diseases we nearly eliminated are making a comeback,” Nurse Gill said as she prepared doses between appointments. “Some feel guilty for delaying vaccines, while others are angry that their children are at risk because of declining vaccination rates.”
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation reports that school attendance has dropped by nearly 15% in affected communities as parents keep children home. Meanwhile, pediatrician offices are overwhelmed with calls from concerned parents.
Back in Saskatoon, I checked in with Janelle and Mila three days after my visit. Mila’s fever had finally broken, though the rash was still prominent. “The doctor says she’ll be okay, but watching her suffer through this was the worst week of my life,” Janelle said. “Her two-year-old cousin is getting vaccinated tomorrow. My sister wasn’t going to do it, but seeing Mila changed her mind.”
As Saskatchewan health officials work to contain the current outbreak, they’re also looking ahead. The province has announced a comprehensive review of its immunization programs and public health communication strategies.
“This is a wake-up call,” Dr. Shahab said toward the end of our conversation. “These diseases haven’t disappeared – they’re just waiting for an opportunity to return. Our collective protection depends on maintaining high vaccination rates.”
For now, families across Saskatchewan are navigating this unexpected public health crisis day by day, hoping the renewed urgency around vaccination will prevent future outbreaks and protect their most vulnerable community members.
