Health minister, premier defend Ontario’s response to worsening measles outbreak [Video]

Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Premier Doug Ford defended on Wednesday the province’s approach to the measles outbreak as new infections increase sharply and criticism mounts.

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, told Radio-Canada in an interview earlier this week that the latest data shows there have been 1,384 people who have fallen ill from the virus since October.

Jones said Moore has been helping local public health units where the outbreaks are occurring. Moore directed public health units more than a year ago to focus their efforts on childhood vaccinations.

When asked if the province’s approach was working, Jones said: “I believe it is.”

“Look, there’s no doubt that there are outbreaks in certain communities and the focus needs to be on first reminding caregivers, parents the value and the efficacy of a measles vaccine that has been in place for over 50 years in the …