Area residents are being warned they may have been exposed to measles after a case was confirmed in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit issued the warning after an individual became ill with measles after travelling outside of the country. There is concern area residents may have been exposed to the illness in a number of Lindsay locations between March 28 to April 8, before the person knew they were ill.
The infected person visited the following locations and anyone who was in the same places during the times indicated may have been exposed:
- Cambridge Mall at 18 Cambridge St. S. in Lindsay: March 28th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 30th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 31st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 2nd from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 3rd from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Reid’s Valu-Mart at 42 Russell St. W. in Lindsay: March 31st from 2 to 4:10 p.m.
- Doctor’s office at Lindsay Professional Building, 65 Angeline St. N. in Lindsay: April 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., April 4th from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., April 5th from 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., April 6th from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m.
- Life Labs at 86 Angeline St. S in Lindsay: April 3rd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 4th from 8 to 10:45 a.m., April 5th from 8 to 10:45 a.m., April 6th from 8 to 10:45 a.m.
- Tim Horton’s at Whitney Town Centre in Lindsay: April 4th from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
- Royal Gardens Food Mart View Lake at 4793 Regional 57 Rd.: March 30th from 2:30 to 4:35 p.m.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air. The measles virus can live for up to two hours in the air where an infected person has coughed or sneezed.
Symptoms include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes, and white spots in the mouth. Symptoms can appear approximately 10 to 14 days after exposure, and in some cases up to 21 days after exposure.
If anyone visited any of the above locations during the time identified, they are asked to check their immunization records and keep a close eye on their health for the next 21 days.
Anyone who develops symptoms should call their health care provider immediately and tell them they have been exposed to measles. Do not go to the doctor or a hospital without telling them before that you have been exposed to measles.
People can still become ill with measles if they have been immunized, but it may be a milder form. Infants under one year of age, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems can suffer severe complications.
To learn more about measles, residents can visit www.hkpr.on.ca or call the Health Unit toll-free at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1007.
