Quebec Public Health expands list of possible measles outbreak sites

Quebec’s health ministry has expanded the province’s list of potential measles outbreak sites after another exposure of the highly contagious disease occurred on July 12.

The updated list follows warnings that two people who were contagious with measles may have exposed others at a dozen locations around Montreal.

Measles symptoms include a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and rashes all over the body.

See also

• Montreal Public Health issues another measles exposure warning
• MUHC warns public of possible measles exposure at Glen site
• The number of global measles cases is already 300% higher than this time last year
• Anti-vaxxers one of 10 biggest global health threats: World Health Organization

“Cases of measles were reported in the greater Montreal area since June 2019,” reads the warning on Quebec’s Public Health website. “People who are considered contagious visited several public places.”

People who visited the following places at the times indicated may be considered at risk of exposure.

Exposure periods are determined based on the time a contagious person spent at the location, with an extra hour added to take into account any virus that stays in the air.

The province’s health agency urges people to call Info-Santé 811 if you have symptoms.

The following people are considered protected against measles, as per the website:

• People born before 1970.
• People who have serology showing antibodies to measles.
• People who have a medical certificate confirming that they had measles before January 1, 1996.
• People who have written evidence of vaccination against measles. The number of doses required to consider people protected varies:
  • Two doses:
    • people born after 1980;
    • people born between 1970 and 1979 who are interns or health care workers, travellers or military recruits.
  • One dose: people born between 1970 and 1979 who are not interns or health workers, travellers, or military recruits.