Health officials : Possible measles exposure at Sudbury locales

The Sudbury & District Health Unit is investigating a confirmed case of measles in a child in Greater Sudbury. Anyone who visited the following locations in Greater Sudbury on the dates and times listed below may have been exposed to measles:

• Costco, 1465 Kingsway, April 23 between 4 pm and 7:30 pm
• LaSalle All Day Walk-in Clinic, 1813 LaSalle Blvd, April 24, between 3 pm and 7 pm
• Health Sciences North Emergency Department, 41 Ramsey Lake Rd, between 8:30 pm April 24 and 4:30am April 25

People who were at these locations outside of the dates and times listed were not exposed to measles as the virus can only live on surfaces outside of the body for up to two hours.

Visitors to these locations during the timeframes noted should check their immunization records to ensure that their children under 18 have received two doses of the measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV). This information can be found on the yellow immunization card, or through your health care provider or the Sudbury & District Health Unit.

People visiting the above locations in the timeframes noted are advised to contact the Sudbury & District Health Unit at 705-522-9200 if you also:

• Had a child under one year of age with you when you visited one of the above locations
• Are unimmunized or unsure of your immunization
• Have a weakened immune system
• Are pregnant
• Work in the health care or child care sector and don’t have two doses of measles vaccine
• Attend college or university and don’t have two doses of measles vaccine

People who have had two doses of the measles vaccine, or who have had measles in the past are protected from measles. Most people born before 1970 are assumed to be immune because of previous measles infection.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads very easily. Symptoms are cold-like and include cough, fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a red rash that may last for up to five days. Sometimes there are small white spots in the inside of the mouth. People should watch for symptoms for 21 days after the possible exposure, meaning up to May 16 for people exposed on April 25.

People who think they may have measles should isolate themselves by staying home and avoiding all contact with unimmunized persons. People are no longer infectious after four full days after a measles rash first appears. A call MUST be placed to your health care provider’s clinic or the hospital first before visiting so precautions can be taken to prevent spreading measles to other patients.

If you are unsure of your vaccination status or that of your children, please discuss this with your health care provider. For more information about measles or immunization, you can also visit www.sdhu.com or call the Sudbury & District Health Unit at 705-522-9200. The SDHU will maintain extended after hours services to respond to this incident.

Canadajournal/Press Releases