Halton Region’s Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Monir Taha, is reporting another case of measles in a Halton adult. This brings the total number of measles cases in the cluster to six. This new case may have led to exposures in public, retail and health-care settings.
“To avoid spreading illness to others, we cannot stress enough the importance of staying home and not exposing other people when you are ill,” stated Dr. Monir Taha. “Measles is contagious from the beginning of the illness until four days after the rash first appears.”
The Health Department is also recommending that persons born 1970 or later who are unsure of their measles vaccination status discuss this with their doctors. Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles.
For those susceptible to measles, there is a risk of exposure at the following Oakville sites:
July 21: Trafalgar Presbyterian Church, 354 Upper Middle Road, Oakville, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
July 22: TD Canada Trust, 3471 Wycroft Road, Oakville, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
July 23: Home Depot, 3300 South Service Road, Oakville, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
July 24: Home Depot, 3300 South Service Road, Oakville, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
July 28: Hopedale Presbyterian Church, 156 Third Line, Oakville, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
New measles cases are possible in non-immune people who have been exposed to this case as late as August 18.
Updated information on any new cases or new exposure sites can be found at www.halton.ca/measlesupdate.
If you think you may have measles and need to see a doctor, you must call ahead to the doctor’s office, walk-in clinic, or emergency department. This will allow health care staff to give you a mask to wear when you arrive and take you straight to a room in which you can be isolated. In a doctor’s office you may be given the last appointment of the day.
For more information, dial 311 or call the Halton Region Health Department at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866 or visit www.halton.ca.
