People in York Region, Toronto and Niagara exposed to measles

Citynews.ca
May 9, 2019

A case of measles has been confirmed in the Niagara Region.

The Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services says an adult caught the infection while travelling outside of Canada. The exposed individual arrived at Pearson International Airport in Toronto from the Philippines aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR118 on Sunday, April 28 between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The individual also visited two locations in York Region while contagious – the Eastern Chinese Restaurant in Markham on Wednesday, May 1 between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. as well as the Petro Canada Convenience Store in Markham on Thursday, May 2 sometime between 9 p.m and 11 p.m.

This person was also in the emergency room of the Niagara Health Welland Site on Friday, May 3 between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.

“The hospital is collaborating with Public Health to ensure anyone who may have been exposed at the Welland Emergency Department is identified and contacted directly as a precautionary measure,” the Niagara Region Public Health unit said in a statement released Wednesday.

Anyone who may have been at any of those locations is asked to check their immunization records to make sure they are up to date with their measles vaccination. The incubation period for measles is 7-21 days so people are being asked to watch for symptoms of the disease until May 23.

“Symptoms of measles can include high fever, cough, runny nose, sore eyes or sensitivity to light, small spots in the mouth or throat and a red rash on the face or body,” said Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region’s Medical Officer of Health. “Anyone showing symptoms of measles is advised to seek health care as soon as possible.”

As of April 20, 2019, Health Canada says there have been 43 cases of measles reported across Canada.