Measles cases in Hastings County triple in a week amid largest outbreak in 30 years
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The number of measles cases in Hastings County has risen to 32, more than triple the number reported by local health officials just one week ago when they first confirmed an outbreak of the highly contagious disease.
In an update on Thursday, the South East Health Unit (SEHU) urged residents to make sure their immunizations are up to date amid the largest measles outbreak in Ontario in 30 years.
All of the Hastings County cases involve people who had never been vaccinated against the disease, according to the health unit.
SEHU previously said the first positive case in the region was an unvaccinated adult who travelled within the province.
As of Thursday, Ontario had reported a total of 372 confirmed and probable cases provincewide, the SEHU stated, including outbreaks declared by 11 public health units.
"Measles is incredibly infectious," said Dr. Ethan Toumishey, medical officer of health for Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH), in an March 6 interview with CBC's All In A Day.
He said the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the room, adding the disease "can have very serious health consequences."
Measles symptoms can appear between one and three weeks after exposure and include fever, coughing and a runny nose, along with red, watery eyesr.
That's followed by a "very dramatic" and characteristic blotchy rash starting on the face and spreading down the body, according to Toumishey.
In its update Thursday, SEHU provided the following advice to anyone planning to visit the Grand Erie or Southwestern Public Health Regions:
Infants between six and 11 months should receive one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, with two additional doses after they turn one.
Children between the ages of one and four who have received their first dose are encouraged to received a second as soon as possible.
A second does of MMR vaccine is also recommended for adults born on or after 1970.
The media release included a quote from Dr. Piotr Oglaza, the SEHU's medical officer of health, describing the vaccine as a safe and effective way to reduce the spread and prevent "severe outcomes."
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