A measles outbreak has been declared by two neighbouring Ontario public health units as there are now 19 confirmed cases of the virus in the area. The top doctor with Grand Erie Public Health says there have been 16 cases confirmed in his area, which includes Brantford and Brant County as well as the Haldimand-Norfolk region. “We’re seeing a lot of activity down here, particularly in the Haldimand-Norfolk area,” Dr. Malcolm Lock, the health unit’s acting medical officer of health, said. “At this point, we’ve got 16 cases in total: 15 associated with Haldimand-Norfolk, one associated with Brant.” He said 13 of those cases are among children and the remaining cases are adults. “When this started, we were looking at this being just a cluster of cases occurring predominantly in a non-immunized group,” Lock said. “But we’ve now moved to calling it an outbreak because of the numbers rapidly increasing. And the numbers we think are going to continue to increase.”
A measles outbreak has also been declared by the neighbouring Southwestern Public Health, which includes some of Tillsonburg as well as Woodstock and St. Thomas. Dr. Ninh Tran, the medical officer of health at Southwestern Public Health, says there have been three cases reported so far this year. Despite the low number of cases compared with their neighbours, the doctor says staff have been tied up dealing with potential contact cases. “Our infectious disease team is at near capacity... following up with those individuals who may have been exposed to measles,” Tran stated. “We’ve had significant exposures involving close contact with confirmed cases outside our region.” He urges anyone who suspects exposure to call hospitals or clinics before visiting to prepare staff for potential cases. “This is a key step allowing health-care providers to prepare for the arrival and reduce chances of others being exposed,” Tran added.
On Wednesday, Lock told reporters some of the symptoms people need to look out for if they feel unwell include “a red rash, fever, cough, runny nose, upper respiratory-type symptoms, along with red eyes, fatigue, and high temperature.” Lock did not indicate the vaccination rates for the Haldimand-Norfolk area, but encouraged people to check their vaccination records if born after 1970. “It’s been calculated even with one dose, one may have up to 85 percent immunity, with two doses considered 100 percent immunity,” he explained.
Meanwhile, health officials from Prince Edward Island are also monitoring the measles situation closely. “Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases,” said Dr. Heather Morrison, the province's top doctor. “We do not have any confirmed cases currently, but we're keeping vigilant.” A recent outbreak of the disease has pushed Canada’s case count to the highest it has been in ten years. “The measles-containing vaccine is very effective at protecting individuals from contracting the virus,” Morrison noted.
For those born after 1970, Morrison recommends receiving two doses of the vaccine if they have not yet had the disease or been vaccinated. “Adults born before 1970 are considered to have some natural immunity,” she added. “They don’t require the vaccine, except if traveling outside Canada, when they should receive at least one dose.” Parents with infants planning international travel should discuss vaccination options with health services, as routine vaccination begins at one year old.
Measles can be spread even before symptoms appear. “It can remain in indoor air spaces for up to two hours after someone infected with measles has left,” Morrison reiterated. Individuals can become infected by breathing contaminated air or touching infected surfaces before touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Symptoms can include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and rash beginning on the face before spreading down the body.
Separately, the Chatham-Kent health unit has warned individuals who visited the hospital emergency room about possible measles exposure. An individual may have exposed others during several stretches at the emergency department, leading to advisories for those present to check immunization histories or contact their healthcare provider. “It’s especially important for those with infants under one year old, pregnant women, or those immunocompromised to reach out for preventative treatment,” the health unit stated. Those exposed should also monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
Given the highly contagious nature of measles and the nature of these outbreaks, there is growing concern among health authorities to control its spread. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant, check vaccination statuses, and seek guidance if they believe they've been exposed. Health officials continue to push for widespread vaccinations as the best method to prevent outbreaks from worsening.