Measles case confirmed in Ottawa
Unimmunized child returning from trip confirmed to have virus
Ottawa Public Health is notifying the public after they confirmed that an unimmunized child returning from a trip to the Phillippines had contracted measles.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Symptoms of measles may develop 7 to 21 days after exposure to an infected person.
Symptoms include a high fever, runny nose, cough, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes. Small white spots may appear in the mouth and throat. A red blotchy rash begins to appear on the face 3 to 7 days after the start of symptoms, then spreads down the body to the arms and legs. This rash usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Symptoms generally last from 1 to 2 weeks.
(source: Ottawa Public Health)
The public health agency is advising all people who may have come in contact with the child to tell their doctor and, if they develop symptoms of measles, to seek medical attention.
Ottawa Public Health said the child attends St. Stephen Catholic School in Stittsville. The public healthy agency said they are working with the school and school board to notify exposed students.
The child was also in the following medical locations last week:
- Feb. 25, 2014, 8:45 a.m. to noon: Med-Team Clinic, 103-99 Kakulu Road.
- Feb. 27, 2014: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Active Care Clinic, 1108 Klondike Road.
- Feb. 28, 2014: noon to 2:20 p.m.: CHEO emergency department.
Measles can lead to ear infections, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and even death, and is more severe in adults and infants.
There are no other reported cases at the present time, Ottawa Public Health said. The last case of measles reported in Ottawa was in February 2011 and was travel-related.
People who believe they have measles should isolate themselves and call before visiting a doctor so they can take precautions to protect other patients, Ottawa Public Health said.