As local measles cases surge, LHSC tightens rules for hospital entry
Visitor must prove vaccination status or wear N95 mask, limit 1 guardian per patient
Amid a worsening measles outbreak infecting unvaccinated people across southwestern Ontario, London's largest hospital has implemented new restrictions for visitors in a move to curtail the spread.
Until further notice, visitors to London Health Sciences (LHSC) Children's Hospital and Women's Care program will be required to:
- Limit to one the number of parents/caregivers allowed to stay with children while they receive care. This applies to all paediatric patients who are admitted to hospital, being seen in the emergency department or attending outpatient appointments. There will be case-by-case exceptions for critical or palliative cases.
- All parents/caregivers will be screened before entering and must provide proof of measles immunity or wear an N95 mask at all times. Proof of immunity includes a certificate showing two doses of the MMR vaccine, those born before 1970, or blood work results that show antibodies to the virus. Those who are unaware of their vaccination status can contact their local Public Health Unit or primary care provider.
- No siblings, other family members or friends will be allowed to enter other than the designated parent/caregiver.
The changes in entry protocol were announced by the hospital at a Friday afternoon news conference.
Dr. Rod Lim, the hospital's director of pediatric emergency medicine, said the hospital is making the changes "to be proactive" amid a rise in cases. Although the cases are concentrated in counties outside of London, Lim said some of those patients are showing up in London hospitals.
"We have a large proportion of the measles cases in Canada in the surrounding counties," said Lim.
Southwest Ontario has seen a sharp spike in measles cases since the new year, with the majority of cases among unvaccinated cases in rural areas outside of London.
Lim said so far, there has not been an outbreak inside the hospital, which he defined as a patient contracting the disease while on site.
"We have had no outbreak of measles within our walls, but we continue to remain quite vigilant," he said.
However, he said the case counts are high enough that the new entry restrictions will be put in place starting immediately and will remain in place until further notice.
"We understand the burden this places on families and patients but we are trying to be proactive with the information at hand," he said. "As that changes, our policy will change."
Lim said although many confirmed and suspected measles cases don't have to be treated in hospital, LHSC is the location where many vulnerable measles patients are treated after they've been exposed. This includes infants. Newborns aren't able to receive a measles vaccination until they reach six months of age.
Lim said there have been cases in which patients have come to the hospital uncertain of whether or not they have measles, only to test positive after arriving.
When asked if the cases are showing up in any specific group, Lim said the outbreak is hitting hardest people who have no vaccine protection.
"Populations that have low rates of vaccinations are particularly prone to measles," he said.
Measles is highly contagious, and while death is rare, it can lead to serious health problems, including pneumonia and/or brain inflammation, which can, on rare occasions, lead to death.
The measles virus can remain in an environment for up to two hours after an infected individual has left a specific location. One infected patient can also transmit the disease to up to 20 other people.
Measles has an incubation period of roughly 10 days, and patients who contract measles initially show symptoms similar to a common respiratory infection, such as the cold or flu.
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