Two area health units provided an update Wednesday afternoon on the measles situation.
Locally, Southwestern Public Health is reporting three cases of measles so far this year and last year 26 cases were reported.
According to an Ontario Public Health report, Southwestern Public Health accounted for 40 per cent of the measles cases reported last year in the province.
Grand Erie Public Health is reporting 16 cases so far this year.
The concern is additional exposure to the highly contagious disease in healthcare settings like hospitals and doctor’s offices.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles symptoms start 7 to 14 days after you are exposed to the virus. The main signs include:
High fever
Cough
Runny nose
Red, watery eyes
Red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body
Complications can include:
Diarrhea
Ear infections
Pneumonia (lung infection)
Rare but serious complications:
Brain infection (encephalitis)
Death
Measles spreads when:
You breathe air where an infected person has coughed or sneezed
You touch a surface with the virus on it and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can live in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours.
You can spread measles to others 4 days before the rash starts and until 4 days after the rash starts.
More information can be found at https://www.swpublichealth.ca/my-health/infectious-diseases/measles/
