Eastern Ontario Health Unit confirms 2 cases of measles
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit says it has confirmed two cases of measles in its jurisdiction, the first cases since an outbreak began in Ontario last fall.
The health unit says the two individuals are related and are currently isolating themselves. They contracted the virus while outside the region. One was not vaccinated against measles, the health unit said, while the vaccination status of the other is unknown.
'At this time, the risk to the general population remains low. The health unit's investigation is ongoing and individuals who may have been exposed to these confirmed cases of measles have been contacted,' the health unit said in a news release.
No public exposure sites have been identified. The health unit says, should a possible exposure location be identified and potential contacts cannot be reached, a public notice will be issued.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit serves a population of approximately 200,000 people in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott-Russell, and the City of Cornwall.
Public Health Ontario has identified 1,440 cases of measles in the province since an outbreak began in October.
Ottawa Public Health announced its first two cases of measles since 2019 last week, with potential exposure sites at two grocery stores. The health unit in Gatineau said the pair had also attended a local petting zoo.
Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, white spots in the mouth, and red watery eyes that may be sensitive to light, followed by a rash that spreads down the body. Symptoms typically last from one to two weeks.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit is urging residents to check their vaccination records to ensure they are protected. If you have reported your immunizations to your health unit, you can verify them online by visiting www.eohu.ca/myimmunization.
More details about obtaining vaccines can be found on the health unit's website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Society representing P.E.I. doctors is suing Health P.E.I. over new targets for family physicians
Health P.E.I. is planning to change how family physicians are expected to work in the province. The Medical Society of P.E.I. says that was not part of negotiations that led up to a new Physician Services Agreement, so it has initiated legal action, saying some doctors will leave the province over this. CBC's Stacey Janzer reports.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
$5M ad campaign to recruit U.S. doctors and nurses
Vancouver Watch The B.C. government has launched a $5-million ad campaign aimed at recruiting American doctors and nurses.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Who's at risk during B.C.'s first heat wave of 2025
A man cools off at a temporary misting station during a heat wave in Vancouver on Aug. 16, 2023. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) While most of us will be enjoying the first heat wave of the year, health officials are warning that some British Columbians should watch for signs of trouble. Several health authorities published bulletins on Friday to urge the public to prepare for temperatures forecast to be in the mid-to-high twenties this weekend with plans to keep cool and hydrated. 'Though we haven't reached the criteria for a heat warning or an extreme heat emergency, there is some concern that people, especially those at higher risk, might be at increased risk,' said Dr. Michael Schwandt, a medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health. For example, seniors, young children and babies, those who are pregnant, diabetics, have heart or respiratory disease, have substance use disorder, have disabilities or cognitive impairments, and those living alone are at increased risk. Certain medications, like anti-psychotics and anti-depressants, as well as diuretics can make people more vulnerable. Anyone who's had heat stroke in the past is likely to have sensitivity to higher temperatures. Early season heat is different Though the temperatures will be significantly lower than the rare 2021 heat dome event, which saw 619 British Columbians die in record-shattering heat, this weekend's heat wave is still early in the year to see temperatures like those forecasted. 'Temperatures that might, by the end of the summer, not present much of a challenge can actually have a greater health impact early on in the summer,' explained Schwandt. 'This is because our bodies—although we can become acclimated to extreme heat quite quickly, actually in a matter of weeks—just haven't had that opportunity as we move from spring to summer.' The B.C. Centre for Disease Control says, 'Severe headache, confusion, unsteadiness, loss of thirst, nausea/vomiting, and dark urine or no urine are signs of dangerous heat-related illness.' SFU researchers urge long-term planning As public health leaders and municipalities urge people to take steps to respond to the heat on the horizon, researchers at Simon Fraser University want them to think about mitigating the risks for years to come with concrete action in the near-term. Associate professor in urban planning, Andreanne Doyon, analyzed more than 240 documents with her co-author and concluded there are gaps in planning for future events like the fatal heat dome of 2021, without a government agency – or even level of government – responsible for quarterbacking future planning. 'Every summer we're going to experience this, and our buildings and our neighborhoods have never been built with heat in mind because we're temperate place,' she said. While the BC Building Code was updated last year to include maximum acceptable temperatures for new home construction, retrofitting older buildings with air conditioning and the requisite power upgrades, or replacing windows and insulation are much more complicated and less feasible. Concrete jungles without tree canopy or shady areas were also identified as factors that built 'heat islands' and contributed to the death toll. 'I want people planning for heat in February, not July,' said Doyon. 'It should be something that we're always prepared for and always thinking about.'
