Measles confirmed in New Brunswick
Case detected in Moncton; potential exposures occurred elsewhere, including Fredericton
The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health reported Friday night that a case of the measles has been confirmed in the Moncton area, and that there was risk of exposure there and in other locales.
The confirmed case is related to travel, both domestically and internationally, a government news release stated, and public-health officials are warning of possible measles exposure in the following locations in New Brunswick and Quebec:
July 20, 11:20 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. at the Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport;
July 20, aboard Air Canada Flight 1550, from Montreal to Fredericton;
July 20, 2:20 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fredericton International Airport arrivals area;
and July 22, 5:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. July 23 at the emergency department of the Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital in Ste-Anne-de-Kent.
In an update Saturday, the province added a potential exposure July 21, 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Jean Coutu Pharmacy, 10525 Rue Principale in Saint-Louis-de-Kent.
Public Health officials will be contacting individuals who were known to be present at the hospital and other locations during those times.
“Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease and is vaccine-preventable,” Dr. Rita Gad, regional medical officer of health, said in the release.
Public Health officials advise all individuals who were potentially exposed to check their immunization records or contact their health-care providers if they are unsure about their immunization status.
In Saturday’s update, Public Health also advised anyone who was potentially exposed to self-monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days from the date of that exposure.
“If you or someone you know was in those locations at those times, it is important to self-monitor for symptoms of measles,” Gad said.
Early symptoms can include fever, cough, sore and/or red eyes, runny nose or tiny white spots in the mouth, the release said, and within three to seven days, a red, blotchy rash will appear, first on the face and then spreading to the body, arms and legs.
“If these symptoms are present, it is important that you self-isolate and contact Telecare 811 by telephone,” said Gad.
“Do not go to a clinic, physician’s office or emergency room. You must contact Telecare 811 so that necessary measures can be put into place to prevent the spread to others.”
New Brunswick’s public-health agency is working with its counterpart in Quebec and the Public Health Agency of Canada, the release said.
“Measles can be prevented with a vaccine. Most people are protected from measles infection from two doses of vaccine,” it said.
“In New Brunswick, the vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella is free of charge for babies aged 12 and 18 months.”
People born in 1970 or later who haven’t received two doses of MMR vaccine previously can contact their health-care providers to be immunized, the release said.
“The measles virus is transmitted through the air or by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of an infected person. Measles can be more severe in adults and infants and can lead to complications,” it said.
“All residents are urged to consider vaccination as the best way to protect themselves and their families against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Those who are unsure of their vaccination status, or that of their children, are urged to discuss this with their health-care provider.”
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