As children get ready to transition from school to summer day camps, Windsor-Essex's top doctor is advising camp operators to get ready for potential measles cases in the region. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is asking all camp organizers to provide their contact information through the WECHU website for effective communication in case of a confirmed or suspected measles case.

Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, the Medical Officer of Health at WECHU, emphasizes the importance of preparedness in keeping the community safe. He stresses the significance of knowing the vaccination status of staff members and ensuring that children are up to date with their vaccines.

The health unit is urging camps to report any suspected cases of measles and assist with contact tracing procedures to prevent the spread of the disease. Dr. Aloosh highlights the need for caution with any respiratory symptoms, advising campers to stay home if they have symptoms like a runny nose, fever, or cough to prevent the infection from spreading.

Although there has been a decrease in measles cases in June compared to April's peak of 82 cases, Dr. Aloosh remains vigilant. He acknowledges the positive trend but emphasizes the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates due to the highly infectious nature of measles. With 146 cases recorded so far this year, the health unit continues to monitor the situation closely.