Nine cases of measles have been confirmed in Hastings County, and the local health unit is warning of community exposure.
The South East Health Unit advised of a measles exposure that occurred at the Central Hastings Family Health Team in Madoc, Ont., between 11:11 a.m. and 1:11 p.m. last Thursday. The health unit is working with the medical centre to identify possible contacts.
Measles is a highly contagious virus and spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks, the health unit said in a Wednesday afternoon news release.
Measles symptoms begin anywhere from one to three weeks after exposure and include fever, runny nose, cough, drowsiness and red eyes, the health unit said.
Small white spots may appear on the inside of the mouth and throat, and a red, blotchy rash appears on the face and spreads down the body three to seven days after symptoms begin, the health unit added.
Vaccination recommended
As of yesterday, the health unit had confirmed just one case and was investigating other probable cases. It said in a Tuesday news release the first positive case was an unvaccinated adult who travelled within the province.
The South East Health Unit is recommending anyone who has been exposed to confirm their family members have two doses of measles vaccine and, if symptoms develop, to stay home and contact a health-care provider.
Those born before 1970 would likely have had measles as a child and are protected, the health unit said.
Medical experts are urging people to get vaccinated for measles, as the total number of cases in the first two months of this year in Ontario has already surpassed the total number of cases for all of last year.
