measles outbreak swells to 16 cases in quebec
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people exposed to measles should isolate between five and 14 days from the date of exposure.
natalya maisheva
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getty images files
quebec's measles outbreak continues to grow, with the province's health authority reporting a 16th case on sunday.the current measles outbreak was declared on march 24, just weeks after another measles outbreak was declared over.the latest exposure was reportedly on june 4, when a person infected with measles visited the chu ste-justine emergency department between 10:45 a.m. and 12:50 p.m.people who visited the hospital's emergency department during that period are asked to monitor for symptoms until june 25.initial symptoms are similar to a cold, but after three to seven days, a rash appears. the rash usually looks like red spots and blotchy patches that begin on the face and spread to the body, arms and legs. anyone who is not immune to the virus and was at the hospital’s er during the time period in question is considered exposed to measles.“if you are not protected against measles, it is recommended you isolate yourself at home from the fifth day following your first exposure to measles until the 14th day, inclusive, after your last exposure,” the health ministry says. the ministry also advises monitoring for symptoms for another week after the isolation period ends.vaccination within 72 hours of exposure can help prevent illness, while antibody injections may provide immediate protection if given within seven days.if you’re immune to measles, the ministry says it is “very unlikely” you will contract the disease. those considered immune include people born before 1970; people with a medical certificate confirming they had measles before jan. 1, 1996; people with serology demonstrating the presence of antibodies against measles; and those who have been vaccinated against the virus.health authorities have warned for several years that declining vaccination rates could allow the disease to regain a foothold in canada. in quebec, measles vaccination coverage is estimated at about 90 per cent.
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