
New measles exposure warnings in Kingston, Tamworth, Napanee
The local health unit is telling people who visited a screening of A Minecraft Movie in Kingston, a school or post office in Tamworth, or hospitals in Napanee and Prince Edward County this month, that they may have been exposed to measles and may need to take action.
The South East Health Unit said in a Tuesday news release that people in the following places may have been exposed to the highly contagious, potentially lethal disease:
Tamworth Elementary School between April 3-10.
Tamworth Post Office on April 10 from 4:10 p.m. to 6:10 p.m.
The emergency department of Lennox & Addington County General Hospital on April 10 from 7 p.m. to 11:47 p.m.
Cineplex Kingston on April 10 from 4:20 p.m. to 8 p.m., including at the 4:35 p.m. screening of A Minecraft Movie, the concession area and bathrooms.
Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital on April 11 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The advisory was related to a new single positive case of measles, the health unit said.
The health unit says people who visited those locations and are immunocompromised, have fewer than two measles vaccinations and are born after 1970, are younger than a year old, are pregnant and/or are a health care or child care worker without immunity to measles should call them at 613-966-5500 extension 349 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
The health unit has more information and guidance on its website.
Other exposures in last 2 weeks
Ontario is in a measles outbreak, with more than 800 cases as of the latest weekly update from Public Health Ontario. Symptoms include fever, cough, irritated eyes and a red, blotchy face rash that spreads.
Ontario had no more than 22 cases a year from 2013 to 2019, according to the province.
The South East Health Unit is a merger between the health units for Hastings and Prince Edward counties; Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington counties; and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
15-04-2025
- CBC
New measles exposure warnings in Kingston, Tamworth, Napanee
The local health unit is telling people who visited a screening of A Minecraft Movie in Kingston, a school or post office in Tamworth, or hospitals in Napanee and Prince Edward County this month, that they may have been exposed to measles and may need to take action. The South East Health Unit said in a Tuesday news release that people in the following places may have been exposed to the highly contagious, potentially lethal disease: Tamworth Elementary School between April 3-10. Tamworth Post Office on April 10 from 4:10 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. The emergency department of Lennox & Addington County General Hospital on April 10 from 7 p.m. to 11:47 p.m. Cineplex Kingston on April 10 from 4:20 p.m. to 8 p.m., including at the 4:35 p.m. screening of A Minecraft Movie, the concession area and bathrooms. Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital on April 11 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The advisory was related to a new single positive case of measles, the health unit said. The health unit says people who visited those locations and are immunocompromised, have fewer than two measles vaccinations and are born after 1970, are younger than a year old, are pregnant and/or are a health care or child care worker without immunity to measles should call them at 613-966-5500 extension 349 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The health unit has more information and guidance on its website. Other exposures in last 2 weeks Ontario is in a measles outbreak, with more than 800 cases as of the latest weekly update from Public Health Ontario. Symptoms include fever, cough, irritated eyes and a red, blotchy face rash that spreads. Ontario had no more than 22 cases a year from 2013 to 2019, according to the province. The South East Health Unit is a merger between the health units for Hastings and Prince Edward counties; Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington counties; and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties.


CBC
13-03-2025
- CBC
Measles cases in Hastings County triple in a week amid largest outbreak in 30 years
Social Sharing 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."

CBC
20-01-2025
- CBC
Kingston, Ont., declares emergency as roughly 1 in 3 households struggle with food insecurity
For Kingston, Ont., city councillor Greg Ridge, the pain of food insecurity is personal. When Ridge was eight years old, his dad was hurt on the job and had to go on disability. Ridge said he recalls wondering why his grandparents were suddenly dropping off groceries and his parents were talking in hushed tones about money. "I remember once in the kitchen my mom was crying, and I went over and I gave her a hug and I said, 'Mom, it's going to be OK,'" the King's Town councillor said, fighting tears of his own. "These are things that they stay with you for the rest of your life." Ridge and the rest of Kingston's city council say the problem is so severe they declared it an emergency during last week's council meeting. "People are drowning. They're under water," said Ridge. "They're working and doing the best that they can ... but it's not enough. We as a municipality are doing what we can, but it's not enough." Public health units across eastern Ontario describe food insecurity — being unable afford food wanted or needed for good health because of financial constraints — as a growing struggle across the region. Rachael Mather, a dietitian with the South East Health Unit, said roughly one in three households in the Kingston area experienced food insecurity in 2023. Parents skip meals to feed kids "We are seeing a significant increase in food insecurity locally," she said, adding the issue is also spiking nationally. Mather pointed to numbers from Statistics Canada and research program PROOF Canada, which found food insecurity estimates across the country were the highest in nearly 20 years. The impacts of food insecurity range from worrying about how to pay for healthy food to going days without it, according to the dietitian. That forces some people to skip meals, or parents to forgo eating in order to make sure their kids have a meal, but even then there are consequences, she explained. "We know that children in food insecure households [are] more likely to suffer from poor mental health and depression and suicidal thoughts later in life," said Mather. Meal program buys new high chair At Martha's Table, a meal program in Kingston, staff see the realities of food insecurity every day. Executive director Ronda Candy said the organization has seen a steady rise in users for years, but that's jumped "300 per cent" since the COVID-19 pandemic. That "unprecedented growth" means feeding people "from all walks of life, people that are employed, people that are unhoused and everything in between," said Candy. One symbol of that change is a new high chair Martha's Table just bought in order to serve some of its smallest clients. "Seeing children, youth, toddlers, babies coming in is very emotional," said Candy. "We know that the need is out there, but to see it on the front line is very challenging." Toronto and Mississauga have also declared food insecurity emergencies. They, along with Kingston, are calling on upper levels of government for help. The motion at city council, put forward by Kingscourt-Rideau Coun. Brandon Tozzo and seconded by Ridge, asks the province to boost social assistance rates to meet basic needs, increase funding for school meal programs and establish a guaranteed livable basic income. According to a statement to CBC by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the provincial government has increased Ontario Disability Support Program rates by 17 per cent, tied it to inflation. It also highlighted tax credits and its move to raise the minimum wage to $17.20, while pointing to its ongoing investments in student nutrition programs and a recent partnership with the federal government. Ridge said he hopes Kingston's emergency declaration sounds the alarm and ensures food insecurity is front and centre when voters ponder their choices in upcoming elections. But mainly, he said, it's a way for the municipality to exhaust every option in order to help those most in need.