Huron Perth Public Health Notifies Public Of Measles Community Exposure
by Bob Montgomery
Huron Perth Public Health is advising the community of one new measles exposure.
The exposure occurred at the following location and timeframe: Stratford General Hospital – Emergency Room, Sunday, March 9th – between 11:30 am and 2 p.m.
If you were present at this location during this time frame, were born in 1970 or later, and are not up to date with your measles vaccinations, please call public health at 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3299. This includes those who were only present briefly as measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours.
Huron Perth Public Health completes case management and contact tracing for confirmed cases of measles. If they cannot reach everyone who was exposed during a contact tracing investigation, they notify the public of a possible community exposure.
Visit www.hpph.ca/measles to view measles information, including vaccination guidance, HPPH vaccination clinics, all known recent measles exposure locations and timelines, and the HPPH Measles Exposure Risk Assessment tool to understand if you are at-risk from a measles exposure.
Measles is a highly contagious virus. It is airborne and can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. The virus can spread to other people when someone with measles coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. Measles can result in complications such as diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia. Rarely, measles can cause brain infections and death.
Measles symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure to the virus and include:
Fever
Runny nose
Cough
Red eyes (watery)
Small white spots can appear on the inside of the mouth and throat but are not always present
Red blotchy rash appears on the face and then spreads down the body (normally appears three to seven days after symptoms begin)
Someone who has measles can be contagious from four days before the rash starts until four days after the rash starts. Most people fully recover from measles within two to three weeks, but sometimes measles can cause complications.
If you think you or a family member has been exposed to measles or has the virus:
Stay home and avoid contact with other people
Avoid having visitors in your home
If you need medical care, call ahead before going to a healthcare facility to tell them you may have measles or been exposed so they can prepare for your arrival and prevent the virus from spreading to others
Wear a well-fitted mask if you need to go out for medical care.
For more information:
Huron Perth Public Health: 1-888-221-2133
Visit www.hpph.ca/measles
