Less than a week after the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit confirmed the first positive measles case within the City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough Public Health has announced the first case of locally acquired measles within the Peterborough region.
In a media release, the health unit noted this is the first case of measles within the region in more than a decade.
As with the measles case in Kawartha Lakes, the Peterborough resident was fully vaccinated against measles — making this another “breakthrough case”.
Although breakthrough cases can occur, the health unit states they are rare — the vast majority of measles cases (94 per cent) in the current provincial outbreak are in unvaccinated individuals — and usually result from prolonged contact with an infected person. The health unit adds that a fully vaccinated person who acquires measles has much less severe symptoms than cases in those who are unvaccinated.
The health unit states that the source of the exposure that infected the Peterborough resident is currently unknown.
“Investigations are currently underway to determine potential exposure locations and affected individuals,” the health unit adds, noting that is has identified the following known exposure locations and dates in Peterborough, including downtown.
- Peterborough Transit Bus – Line 6 (Sherbrooke West) – June 2 to 4 from 7:34 to 10:30 a.m. and 2:35 to 5 p.m.
- Peterborough Transit Bus – Line 6 (Sherbrooke East) – June 2 to 4 from 9:12 to 11:45 a.m. and 4:45 to 7:15 p.m.
- Peterborough Transit Bus – Line 22 (Community Bus Blue) – June 5 from 9:20 to 11:25 a.m. and 2:45 to 5 p.m.
- Jackson Creek Retirement Residence (481 Reid St., Peterborough) – May 31 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 1 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Greg’s No Frills (230 George St. N., Peterborough) – June 4 from 4 to 9 p.m.
- Shopper’s Drug Mart (250 Charlotte St., Peterborough) – June 2 from 4 to 10 p.m., June 4 from 7 to 10 p.m., and June 5 from 3 to 5:40 p.m.
- PRHC Emergency Department (1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough) – June 5 from 9:29 a.m. to 3:02 p.m.
“Additional time (information) has been included in the information above to reflect the potential for airborne transmission of the measles virus,” reads the media release.
People who believe they may be at risk of having been exposed to measles should monitor for symptoms until 21 days after potential exposure and check vaccination records to confirm that family members have received two doses of the measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV). People born before 1970 may only have received one dose and are not considered susceptible to infection.
If you believe you may have been exposed to measles at the dates and locations above, have not been vaccinated or are unsure, notify Peterborough Public Health by calling 705-743-1000. You should also call the health unit if you were exposed and are immunocompromised, unvaccinated, or pregnant to be assessed for eligibility and need for post-exposure care.
Measles is a highly contagious virus spread through coughing and sneezing that can live for up to two hours in the air.
Symptoms of measles begin one to three weeks after infection and may a high fever, cough, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability, red and watery eyes, small white spots with white centres on the inside of the mouth and throat, and a red blotchy rash three to seven days after other symptoms start.
If you develop symptoms of measles, call Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000 and notify them that you may have measles. If you have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms, always phone any clinic, emergency department, or health care setting first before going there.
Although most people who contract measles recover without treatment, it can be severe for those who are immunocompromised, including infants, pregnant people, and those with existing medical conditions. Possible complications can include ear infections, pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death.
