General News

One case of measles detected in the Simcoe County

March 22, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has received confirmation that a resident of the Simcoe Muskoka region has tested positive for measles.

The person who has a confirmed case of measles is an adult who has not travelled recently or been in contact with a known case of the disease.

The Health Unit is reaching out to known contacts who may have been exposed.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads very easily through airborne transmission. The measles virus can live in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. Symptoms of measles begin seven to 21 days after exposure and include fever, runny nose, cough, drowsiness, and red eyes. Small white spots appear on the inside of the mouth and throat but are not always present. Three to seven days after symptoms begin, a red, blotchy rash appears on the face and then progresses down the body.

The risk of transmission to those vaccinated with two doses is low, and when it does occur tends to show a reduction in the severity of these symptoms.

People who do get sick usually recover without treatment, but measles can be more severe for infants, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.

“The risk of measles is low for people who have been fully immunized with two doses of measles vaccine or those born before 1970; however, many children have been delayed in receiving their routine childhood immunizations including the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and people who have not had two doses of measles vaccine are at higher risk of contracting the disease,” said Dr. Gardner, SMDHU medical officer of health.

The Health Unit lists several locations on its website where the public may have been exposed.

If you develop symptoms, stay home and do not attend work or school. 

Call your health care provider before going to be seen to inform them that you may have measles and require additional precautions.

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