Hamilton Public Health is encouraging everyone, especially children to get up to date on their vaccinations.

This comes following confirmation that a child who lives in Hamilton was diagnosed with measles after travelling to India.

Hamilton Public Health says measles is a disease and is preventable with a vaccination. Public health officials say it’s more important now as March Break is ending, and kids are returning to school next week.

Ontario’s Health Minister said Thursday there are now eight confirmed cases of measles in the province, including the one in Hamilton.

READ MORE: Hamilton public health confirms travel-related measles case

According to Hamilton Public Health’s, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Brendan Lew, they know that a number of cases in Ontario have been associated with travel.

“Public health services rapidly initiated a public health response, including investigating that case and any contacts, particularly those in Hamilton,” Dr. Lew said. “Any contacts in Hamilton have been contacted and given appropriate public health guidance and advice.” 

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a respiratory virus that easily spreads to those who are not vaccinated against it, or who have not previously contracted the disease.

Infants under the age of one, those who are pregnant, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk. 

“Measles can cause very serious health complications including things such as pneumonia, inflammation of the brain or encephalitis, as well as things such as blindness and deafness. In very serious cases it can also cause hospitalization, as well as death,” Dr. Lew said.

As March Break comes to a close this week and students who may have travelled and are going back to class, public health says vaccinations are a must and says there are clinics available. 

Dr. Lew said they are aware the immunization rate was affected by the impacts on the healthcare system causing the delay in access to care because of COVID-19.

READ MORE: Measles patient had ‘close contacts’ at a York Region high school: public health

Jones says local public health units need to focus on childhood vaccinations.

“We do have sufficient supply, we have actually procured additional vaccines if needed. Measles can be a very serious illness depending on your age and depending on the severity. So I encourage people to have those conversations and make sure their loved ones are protected,” Minister Jones said.

Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act, students in Ontario are required to report vaccinations to their local public health unit.

“The important thing is that we know who is up to date on those vaccinations, or who is at increased risk should there be a case or an exposure in a school setting for example,” Dr. Lew said.

An important note, high school students with overdue vaccines or vaccine records, or no exemptions on file, were originally warned in January that they would be suspended from school starting the week of Mar. 4.

However, because of the ongoing cyber-attack impacting the city, public health is delaying the suspensions, with no word yet on when that will resume.