While the first reported case of measles in a resident of the Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough (HKNP) Public Health’s catchment area is in a fully vaccinated person, the health unit’s deputy medical officer of health says immunization is still “effective and essential” for protection against one of the world’s most contagious diseases.
Dr. Natalie Bocking, deputy medical officer of health for HKNP Public Health, shared with kawarthaNOW her thoughts around the first confirmed case of measles in a resident in Kawarthas Lakes, and the fact that the person who contracted the disease has received the appropriate course of vaccination.
“While rare, it is possible for fully vaccinated individuals to develop measles through a ‘breakthrough’ infection,” Dr. Bocking said. “The MMR vaccine, which provides protection against measles, mumps, and rubella, is highly effective, but not 100 per cent.”
However, she added, “These breakthrough infections are usually milder, less likely to require hospitalization, and occur in people who have close contact with a case over a longer period of time.”
Dr. Bocking said it’s important to note that of the more than 2,000 cases of measles in Ontario in the last six months, 94 per cent are among people who are not vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination history.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world, but also one of the most preventable,” she said. “The measles vaccine is safe, effective and essential for protecting not just yourself, but your loved ones and our entire community. Vaccination is how we stop outbreaks before they start.”
As the HKNP Public Health board of health meeting on May 15, Dr. Bocking said “we should not be surprised if we do see a case” of measles in the region.
“We certainly have had individuals who have been exposed (through gatherings in other communities where a case has been identified),” she said at the meeting. “As the health unit, we continue to plan and prepare for when a case may or will likely arrive.”
On Thursday (June 5), the health unit announced it had received confirmation of the first positive measles case of a resident within the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The adult resident was exposed to the virus from close contact with a person from another region who was previously confirmed to have measles.
While the health unit had earlier reported a person infected with measles had visited Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay on the evening of Victoria Day (May 19), that person (who was not vaccinated against measles) was from outside the Kawarthas region and did not acquire the infection locally.
Exposure Locations and Dates
- Dunsford District Elementary School (33 Dunsford Road, Dunsford) – May 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. and May 29 from 3 to 8 p.m.
- Dollarama Lindsay (363 Kent St. W., Lindsay) – May 30 from 3 to 5:05 p.m.
- Lindsay Square Mall (401 Kent St. W., Lindsay) – May 31 from 1 to 4 p.m.
- Hair Tones Salon (401 Kent St. W., Lindsay) – May 31 from 1 to 3:45 p.m.
“Additional time (information) has been included in the information above to reflect the potential for airborne transmission of the measles virus,” noted a media release from the health unit.
People who believe they may have been exposed to measles at the dates and locations above are asked to notify the HKPR District Health Unit by calling 1-866-888-4577 ext. 4050 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or by emailing [email protected].
Symptoms of Measles
Symptoms of measles begin one to three weeks after infection and may include a high fever, cough, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability, red and watery eyes, small white spots with white centres on the inside of the mouth and throat, and a red blotchy rash three to seven days after other symptoms start.
If symptoms develop, the health unit asks residents to stay home, do not attend work and school, and contact the health unit at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 4050.
Source: kawarthaNOW.
