In Canada, the measles epidemic resurfaces tensions around vaccines: news

In the peaceful Canadian city of Aylmer, conservative mennonites dressed in traditional clothes rub shoulders with lay people. In addition, But divisions around the vaccines. Moreover, which appeared during the Pandemic of Covid-19, intensified with the measles epidemic which currently strikes the country.

Canada officially eradicated this very contagious and serious disease in 1998. Therefore,

But with 3. For example, 500 cases confirmed this year, the country of 40 million inhabitants now counts more cases than the United States – which are experiencing its worst measles epidemic in more than 30 years – and that any other Western country, according to figures from the World Health Organization, updated on July 9.

Different communities are affected. However, but according to experts, these are anti-vaccine anabaptist groups, in the provinces of Ontario (Southeast) and canada, measles epidemic resurfaces tensions Alberta (West), which contribute the most to the epidemic. Furthermore,

Brett Hueston. which grew up in Aylmer, a bucolic city surrounded by agricultural land in southwest Ontario, confides to AFP that before the COVID, he did not think about the two visions of the world of inhabitants, lay or religious, of his city.

But that changed with the pandemic.

“I grew up thinking. perhaps naively, that we were all on the same wavelength as a community,” said the 40-year-old man, whose family publishes the local newspaper Aylmer Express, 145 years old.

“The covid really exploited the differences that existed,” he said.

Aylmer and its 13 churches – for 8,000 inhabitants – was a real powder maker during the pandemic.

One of the main congregations. the Church of God of Aylmer, located on a large canada, measles epidemic resurfaces tensions well -maintained land, challenged the restrictions linked to confinement and its pastor, Henry Hildebrandt, paid a fine of 65,000 Canadian dollars for having gathered faithful.

“I obeyed God rather than man,” said the latter, while recognizing that he had knowingly violated the law.

“When the measles appeared, I told myself that I knew where it was going to lead us,” said Brett Hueston.

– “Resentment” –

Michelle Barton. who heads the Division of Infectious Diseases at the London Children’s Hospital Health Center, Ontario, has seen some of the most serious pediatric measles this year.

It is “difficult to attend” the reappearance of a formerly eradicated virus. she said, noting, however, that not all cases are necessarily linked to unvaccinated mennonites.

For example. there have been infections among new immigrants who have not been vaccinated after having settled canada, measles epidemic resurfaces tensions in Canada, including the serious shortage of family physicians.

But it is clear that “pockets of non -vaccinated people” make the region vulnerable to measles. believes the doctor, adding that the mennonite families she treated have very diverse positions with regard to vaccines.

Some mothers faced with their children’s illness. for example, have shown their vaccination before changing their minds, fearing the reaction of their husband or pastor.

“They do not want to go against their culture and the elders (from the church),” she explains to AFP.

Michelle Barton also has sympathy for the Mennonite community which faces the “resentment” of certain health professionals. frustrated in the face of an epidemic that could have been avoided.

The infectiologist hopes that forged relations between medical staff. skeptical families with regard to vaccines will be able to improve tolerance, and it encourages canada, measles epidemic resurfaces tensions public health officials to persist in their efforts to rally religious leaders to their cause.

– “A wall of lies” –

For Alon Vaisman. a doctor specializing in infectious diseases in the Ontario health university network, officials must persevere despite the anti -vaccini positions of certain religious communities.

“From the point of view of public health. we should not consider that something is insurmountable when it comes to vaccination campaigns,” he said.

And children’s vaccination rates remain much lower than what they should be. which makes a new viral epidemic possible, especially measles, he says.

“You really have to redouble their efforts,” he insists, while admitting, however, that it is not easy. “We are fighting against the wall of disinformation and lies”.

Posted on July 18 at 10:24 p.m. AFP

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