Hamilton child isolating at home after catching measles overseas: public health
Officials say travellers at Toronto Pearson International Airport on March 5 may have been exposed
Travellers at Toronto Pearson International Airport on March 5 may have been exposed to the measles after an Ontario child caught the contagious disease on a trip overseas, says Hamilton Public Health Services.
The child is now isolating at home in Hamilton, officials said.
Public health shared the information in a news release Wednesday, saying it has investigated and followed up with locals who may have been exposed to the virus through this person and with officials outside the city regarding possible exposures.
"Hamilton Public Health Services is not aware of any additional exposure locations in Hamilton at this time," the release said.
The child was returning from a trip to India, public health said. Members of the public who were on Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight SV 61, which left Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 5, and landed at Pearson later that day at 3:25 p.m., may have been exposed to the virus.
People who were at Pearson's Terminal 3 that afternoon and evening may have also been exposed, according to public health. Pearson is Canada's busiest airport.
This isn't the first local case this year. In February, health officials confirmed a child from the Brantford, Ont., area picked up measles on a recent trip to Europe. People may have been exposed to the measles as a result — at Brantford General Hospital's emergency department on Feb. 23 and at McMaster Children's Hospital's emergency department on Feb. 24, officials said at the time.
People with symptoms should isolate: public health
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, and Hamilton public health says it spreads easily to people who are not vaccinated against it or have not had the respiratory virus.
Babies, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant people are at increased risk.
Public health says measles symptoms being one to three weeks after infection, and include fever, cough, runny nose and drowsiness, as well as a rash, and small white spots inside the mouth and throat.
People concerned about possible exposure should ensure their measles vaccinations are up to date and monitor for symptoms, public health says. There are two shots recommended for anyone born after 1970. Those born before then are considered protected.
Anyone with measles symptoms should contact their healthcare provider, or public health and stay home.
March break travel prompts worry
Cases of measles have been reported around Ontario including in Simcoe Muskoka, London and York Region.
As of March 13, there have been eight laboratory-confirmed cases of measles in the province, according to Public Health Ontario.
Of those, six were associated with travel outside Canada and two have an unknown source of exposure. Last year, the province saw seven lab-confirmed cases.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec all have measles cases, too. Health officials have warned about the spread given so many people travel this time of year.
Dr. Kami Kandola, the Northwest Territories chief public health officer, recently told CBC News that measles cases are increasing globally as vaccine uptake declines.
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With files from Samantha Beattie, CBC News