Potential measles exposures in Renfrew, Outaouais and Ottawa
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A patient or patients who were later diagnosed with measles spent hours in the emergency department at Renfrew Victoria Hospital on April 15, potentially exposing others to the infectious disease and prompting a warning from local public health officials to those who might have been exposed.
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Both Renfrew and Ottawa have identified two measles cases in recent days amid a province-wide outbreak that has now infected more than 1,200 people.
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On Thursday, Ottawa Public Health confirmed two cases of measles — the first since 2019 in the city — in an adult and a child from the same family. The infections are believed to be the result of international travel. OPH is asking people who might have been exposed to check their vaccination records and monitor for symptoms. In Ottawa, potential exposures were at Costco near Blair Road between 6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on April 23 and at Food Basics at 1021 Cyrville Road on April 21 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
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Outaouais public health officials have also warned of a possible exposure by the Ottawa patients at Éco des champs farm located at 482 Eardley Road, Gatineau, Quebec, on Easter Sunday, April 20, in the morning. The risk, they said in a release, is low. There are no cases in the Outaouais.
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The risk in Renfrew, for those who are not protected by vaccination or previous infection, is potentially higher. Measles is highly infectious and can remain in the air for up to two hours after a person who is contagious has left the room.
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In a release, Renfrew and County Public Health confirmed the two cases in the Renfrew County area and said the public may have been exposed at two locations — Renfrew Victoria Hospital and No Frills on O'Brien Road in Renfrew.
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The hospital exposures were on April 15 at two locations inside the hospital — the emergency department between 1 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and diagnostic imaging between 4:40 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
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The No Frills exposures were later on April 15 between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.
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The public health unit is asking those who were potentially exposed to check their vaccination records or have a blood test for proof of immunity to measles. Two doses of measles-containing vaccines are required for immunity, but people born before 1970 are generally considered protected because they likely had measles as a child.
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People who are not protected are being asked to contact the health unit and to stay home. Even those whose vaccinations are up to date are being asked to monitor for symptoms and to contact their caregiver before going if symptoms appear. Those who have an infant under 12 months who is not vaccinated, who are themselves not fully vaccinated or who are severely immunocompromised are asked to contact local public health (613-732-3629 or 1-800-267-1097) immediately.
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