Potential measles exposure reported at Woodstock healthcare service

Another measles exposure has been reported in a health care setting in the London area, officials with Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) said Saturday.

The potential exposure occurred at the LifeLabs in Woodstock at 510 Ingersoll Ave. on Feb. 12 between 10:11 a.m. and 12:35 p.m., the health unit said in a brief media release.

"Measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours," the release said. 

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and red rash, it added. Further complications can include diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia. In rare cases, it can be fatal. 

As Ontario grapples with a measles wave, Saturday's release is the fourth potential measles exposure at a health care facility within SWPH's jurisdiction this month.

The three previous exposures occurred at St. Thomas Walk-In Clinic on Feb. 7 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Feb. 9 between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., as well as Aylmer LifeLabs on Feb. 10 between 10:30 a.m and 2:15 p.m. 

Anyone born in 1970 or later who isn't up-to-date on their vaccinations should call public health if they were exposed, said the release. 

According to SWPH, there have been at least 12 confirmed cases of measles reported to the health unit since Jan. 1.

Ontario seeing spike in measles 

The number of measles cases has ballooned in Ontario and throughout Canada in recent months.

As of Feb. 13, at least 57 confirmed and six probable measles cases had been reported in Ontario since the start of the year, according to Public Health Ontario.

The province says most are linked to a travel-related case in New Brunswick from mid-October that later sparked outbreaks in that province and in Ontario.

In the following months, at least 99 confirmed and probable cases of measles have been reported in Ontario that have been linked to that outbreak, all involving people born in or after 1970, the province says.

At least 84 cases have involved children and adolescents, nearly all of whom were unvaccinated, the province says.

6:54A look at measles cases in Canada

Health contributor Dr. Iris Gorfinkel takes a look at the recent uptick in measles cases in Canada

During a media briefing last week, Dr. Ninh Tran, the medical officer of health for SWPH, urged residents to check their own and their family's immunization record to ensure they have two doses of the measles vaccine.

Two doses of the measles vaccine are recommended for anyone born in or after 1970. In Canada, the vaccine is available in the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

Tran is also recommending parents get their young children vaccinated earlier than usual. 

"We're encouraging our local parents to talk to their healthcare provider about getting a first dose of a measles-containing vaccine between the ages of six [months] and 11 months," he said.

If you or someone you know may have been exposed to measles, here's where to get help:

• Call public health at 1-800-922-0096 ext. 1232

• Visit the SWPH measles web page for a list of all known exposures and to determine what actions to take after being exposed.