Toronto Public Health warns of measles exposure at three healthcare centres
Potential exposure occurred at Scarborough Health Network and Markington Family Care in late June. City has seen five confirmed cases this year.
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Toronto Public Health is alerting the public to potential measles exposure at three healthcare facilities at the end of June.
People may have been exposed on Sunday, June 28th at the Scarborough Health Network's general emergency room from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and at the Kids Out-patient Clinic on Tuesday, June 30th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Members of the public may also have been exposed on Monday, June 29th at the Markington Family Care and Walk-in Clinic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Parents or guardians of children under one year old who may have been exposed are asked to contact Toronto Public Health immediately as they may be eligible for immunoglobulin treatment, which boosts the body's immune system by injecting concentrated antibodies.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks. The virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed is asked to check their vaccination records and monitor for symptoms until July 21. Symptoms can include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, a red rash beginning on the face and spreading down the body, and Koplik spots — small blue-white spots on the inside of the mouth and throat. People born in 1970 or later require two doses of the measles vaccine if they have not had an infection. Anyone born before 1970 may have already had measles when the virus was common in Canada.
Toronto Public Health has confirmed five measles cases linked to travel outside Canada so far this year. The agency notes there is currently an increase in measles cases in many countries.
