By Staff
March 31st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Region Health Department is investigating a confirmed case of measles in an Oakville resident that has led to potential exposures in public and health-care settings in Oakville during the period of March 21-29, 2017.
Anyone who has not had two doses of a measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV) or who has not had measles in the past is at risk of infection.
People who have visited any of the following locations may have been exposed to measles:
• Tuesday, March 21, Sheridan College, 1430 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville, 6 –11:30p.m.
• Thursday, March 23, Sheridan College, including the gym and campus Tim Hortons,
1430 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 23, Walmart (Oakville), 234 Hays Blvd., Oakville, 3:30 – 10:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 26, Tim Hortons, 2355 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 28, Trafalgar Medical Clinic, including the main foyer, the food court and LifeLabs in the basement, 1235 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 29, Tim Hortons, 2355 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Visitors to these locations during the times noted should do the following:
A severe case of measles.
• Check your immunization records to make sure you and your children have had two doses of the measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV). Your immunization record (yellow card) or your doctor can provide you with this information. Two doses of measles vaccine are recommended for anyone born after 1969.
• Infants under one year of age, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems can get very ill with measles and should contact Halton Region Health Department or their health care professional immediately for further assessment.
• Watch for symptoms of measles until 21 days after exposure. These include a high fever, cold-like symptoms (cough/runny nose); sore eyes or sensitivity to light; small spots with a white centre on the inside of the mouth; and a red rash lasting four to seven days.
• If you think you may have measles and need to see a doctor, you must call ahead to the doctor’s office, walk-in clinic or emergency department. This will allow health care staff to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection and protect others visiting the office, clinic or hospital.
“With a case of confirmed measles in our community, it’s imperative that residents protect themselves and their community against the increasing risk of infection by ensuring their measles immunization is up to date,” said Dr. Julie Emili, Acting Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through the air. Anyone who has not had two doses of a measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV) or who has not had measles in the past is at risk of infection.
For more information, dial 311 or call the Halton Region Health Department at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866 or visit halton.ca/measles.
Anyone of Age who has not received their immunizations/vaccinations because they have elected not to have the inoculation (for whatever reason) are riding on the ‘herd-immunity’ affect. They let others (i.e., general population) take the risk of the vaccination side-effects (most are very rare) which significantly lowers their chance of acquiring the disease.
It should be recorded how cases of mumps and measles are in individuals who are self non-immunized. It is their right not to be immunized but they are placing other susceptible individuals at risk (infants mostly) and at what cost to the system. Perhaps these self non-immunized individuals who get the disease should have to pay their health care cost for treatment of the disease and be open to litigation from those they infect.
It does open up a plethora of ethical dilemmas.
Just saying.