The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit has confirmed that members of the public may have been exposed to measles at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay.
In a statement Thursday, the health unit — now legally named Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Public Health (HKNP Public Health) — said an individual with a lab-confirmed case of measles visited the hospital’s emergency room on the evening of Monday, May 19th.
The individual, who is unvaccinated and not a resident of the HKPR region, was present in the emergency room waiting room and triage area between 7:02 p.m. and 9:46 p.m. HKNP Public Health says the infection was not acquired locally.
Health officials are actively working with the hospital to trace contacts and notify anyone who may have been exposed. Priority is being given to those at highest risk, including infants, pregnant women and severely immunocompromised individuals.
Anyone who was at Ross Memorial Hospital during the exposure window is being advised to:
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Check their immunization records to ensure they and their household members have received two doses of the measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV).
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Monitor for symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a blotchy rash.
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Stay home and contact the health unit if symptoms develop, instead of attending work or school.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus that can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area. Symptoms typically appear 7 to 21 days after exposure and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, or even death in vulnerable individuals.
“This is a serious, but preventable illness,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, Deputy Medical Officer of Health. “With measles cases rising across Ontario, it’s important for our community to stay informed and protected. The vaccine is over 97 per cent effective with two doses.”
Anyone concerned about exposure or who develops symptoms should call the health unit at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 4050, or visit the measles information page on the HKPR website.
