An outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) W-135 in Saskatchewan is still being monitored, a month after it was first declared. The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA) Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said there have been 15 outbreak-related cases reported in the province so far this year. In 2025, there were 16 cases in the province, and just one in 2024. IMD, a rare and potentially life-threatening illness, is a bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It’s spread through close contact. “This bacterium moves out of the oral cavity, into the blood stream, then makes its way to the nervous system,” said Joseph Blondeau, the provincial lead of clinical microbiology at the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Symptoms can include: Those most affected during the outbreak have been children under 5 years old, and it’s not just in Saskatchewan, as case numbers have been rising across Canada. “There are a couple reasons for that. One could be maybe a low vaccine coverage rate. There was even some suggestion it could be some shifts in immunity in the population,” said Blondeau. Dr. Shahab said the risk to the general public is low, but immunization is the best way to prevent the disease. The province is currently providing free meningococcal vaccines to children over the age of one, Grade 8 students, and anyone older than six weeks that have certain health conditions that increase their risk of IMD. A focused immunization response is also being carried out for infants six weeks to 12 months old who reside on or visited a First Nation in Saskatchewan or Manitoba. There is a chance IMD can be fatal, and those affected can be left with permanent disabilities. “That partial disability could be blindness or a limb amputation. There could be some neurological complications. This is a serious disease,” said Blondeau. Dr. Shahab said Public Health continues to monitor the outbreak. In the meantime he advises parents and caregivers to ensure their children are up to date with routine immunizations. IMD can be reduced by avoiding sharing drinks and utensils, sharing cigarettes or vapes, regular handwashing, and covering coughs and sneezes.
