Waterloo region now has 14 cases of measles, possible exposure at Kitchener ER
Waterloo region now has 14 confirmed cases of measles, which is up from just three cases last week, public health officials said Tuesday.
This comes as Ontario has been experiencing a rise in cases of the vaccine-preventable virus in recent weeks.
In a release sent out Tuesday, Region of Waterloo Public Health said people could have possibly been exposed at this location on Saturday, March 29:
Grand River Hospital's emergency department, 835 King Street West, Kitchener from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (now known as WRHN @ Midtown).
A previous release said exposures may have happened on Friday, March 21 at these places:
Pharmasave Campus at 170 University Ave. W. in Waterloo from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shoppers Drug Mart at 50 Weber St. N. in Waterloo from 12:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Anyone who may have been exposed at the locations should contact the public health unit immediately if they fall under these three categories:
They are immunocompromised.
They are pregnant.
They are a child or adult born or after 1970 who is unvaccinated or has only received one dose of measles vaccine.
Anyone living in Waterloo region can call 519-575-4400 to reach a public health official.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. The World Health Organization says the virus can remain active in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours.
It usually begins with a fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body and limbs. The virus can lead to pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and death.
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