LATEST STORIES:
Measles outbreak confirmed
(Updated)
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health says we are in the midst of a measles outbreak. There are currently eleven reported cases of measles in the province. The most recent cluster of infection began to spread in Hamilton in the last couple of weeks.
Public health departments call it an outbreak even if it’s just “one” person infected with measles. That’s because North America has been free of “naturally occuring” measles since 1998. It is frequent travelling that brings measles to Canada.
An unidentified Hamilton man travelled to the Philippines last month and became infected with measles. He went to a health facility and it was there that an unidentifed Hamilton woman also became infected with the highly contagious disease.
Shelly Deeks is the Ontario Medical Director of Preventable Diseases: “You just need to be in the room with someone who has measles and in fact it’s so infectious, the virus stays in the room for approximately 2 hours afterwards.”
A Walmart on highway five near Clappison’s Corners is one of several places an infected person visited and may have unknowingly spread the disease. She also visited the Sky Zone indoor trampoline park in Mississauga and the Queen’s Head in urlington. One other person has been infected in Halton region as well. It’s alarming to public health officials because measles continues to kill one in three thousand people who become infected.
Natasha Crowcroft is Chief of Infectious Diseases: “There isn’t any treatment. It’s mother nature at her finest and you just have to suffer with it and if you don’t make it thru you don’t make it thru.”
Which is why public health officials urge parents to immunize their children with what they describe as a safe and 95% effective vaccination. But if you suspect you or your child has become infected with measles you should call ahead before going to the doctor.
Arlene King is Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health: “Let them know you are coming and wondering if you have measles the healthcare provider can then take appropriate precautions to ensure there isn’t spread to those settings.”
Health officials say you are contagious four hours before “and after” symptoms appear.
An important thing to point out is that if you got your measles shots when you were a child, two doses of it to be specific, there isn’t a time limit on it, you are 95% protected for the rest of your life.
The most vulnerable people who can become infected are babies, pregnant women and people with already weakened immune systems.
The list of places that were visited by the infected woman is on our website. It’s important to note the times because they include the 2 hours after the person with measles left, where could still have become infected.
- Symptoms include:
- a high fever;
- cough;
- runny nose;
- spots inside the mouth;
- and a red rash that lasts for 4 days.
Officials say Canada’s public health system is considered strong with regards to measles, but issues can arise when people travel abroad.
Hamilton public health has released a list of locations where one of the people infected between March 22nd and March 26th. If you were in any of these locations on those dates you’re urged to go over your vaccination records.
For more information: 905-546-2424 x2424
Additional video: News Now coverage of a news conference by Ontario chief medical officer of health, Dr Arlene King:
Additional video: Annette Hamm interviews Hamilton’s associate medical officer of health, Dr Hamidah Meghani:
