First confirmed measles case in Nova Scotia linked to travel within Canada

CITYnews halifax / By Natasha O’Neill

Nova Scotia Public Health is investigating a confirmed case of measles in Pictou County, the first in the province.

The health agency is looking at who else is ill with measles-like symptoms after it is believed the person travelled to other parts of the country and was infected.

The virus is highly contagious, being spread through the air and droplets, prompting health authorities to issue two exposure locations where other people in the community could have been infected:

• Aberdeen Hospital Emergency Department (835 E River Rd., New Glasgow)
  Saturday, July 5 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Emergency Department (25 Bay St., Antigonish)
  Saturday, July 5 from 10:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Officials said that anyone at either exposure site during these times who is pregnant, immunocompromised or under the age of 12 months should contact the public health agency immediately at (902-752-5151).

Related:

• Canada could lose its measles elimination status if spread lingers, PHAC advisor says
• Don’t know if you’ve been vaccinated against measles? Get a shot, doctors urge
• Infant born prematurely dies in southwestern Ontario after measles infection

People who were exposed can develop symptoms of measles as early as seven days and up to 21 days later.

“The risk to the general public is considered low; most people are protected from measles by being vaccinated or from previous infection,” Nova Scotia Health said in a statement.

Symptoms of measles include:

• Fever
• A red blotchy rash on the face, which spreads down the body
• Cough, runny nose, red eyes
• Small white spots may also show up inside the mouth and throat

“The best protection against measles is vaccination,” health officials said.

Anyone born after 1970 in the province is encouraged to receive two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Those born between 1970 and 1995 in Nova Scotia, it’s possible they only received one dose of this vaccine.

Fewer cases being reported in Ontario

The epicentre of the measles outbreak across Canada is a small portion of southwestern Ontario.

A Public Health Ontario report released suggests a continuing downward trend in new measles cases. The health agency reported 12 new cases in the province, down from 33 additions last week and 96 the week before that.

Ontario has had a total of 2,223 measles cases since an outbreak linked to travel in New Brunswick began last October.

Alberta has the second-highest number of measles infections in the country, with 1,179 reported as of Thursday, including 74 new cases over the last week.

The majority of people infected in both Ontario and Alberta have been unvaccinated infants, children and adolescents.