SASKATOON—The Saskatchewan Health Authority has notified the staff and families of the students of one public elementary school in the city of a possible measles exposure in late May.
The SHA’s showed there are already 47 measles cases in the province this year, with 18 from the five to 17 years old age group and 15 from the 18 to 54 years old age group.
SHA Community Engagement and Communications Media Relations Specialist David Freeman told Â鶹ÊÓƵ that they post recent exposure information, along with measles symptoms, what to do if you suspect you have measles, and vaccination information on the .
“These are situations where an individual (one or more) who is confirmed to have measles was contagious and was not able to identify who they may have been in contact with while infectious. This is most frequently placed in business or other public places. This identifies where the individual was, not necessarily where they live,” said Freeman.
In a letter sent to the North Park Wilson School’s staff and families of students, the SHA stated that the possible exposure occurred from Thursday, May 29, to Friday, May 30. SHA Public Health and Preventive Medicine Area Lead Dr. Jasmine Hasselback stated in the letter that they are investigating a person who is allegedly infected with red measles.
The SHA letter said others might be exposed during the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 29 and May 30, including the Family Bingo Night on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Red measles, also known as rubeola, is an infectious disease that can be transmitted to others through exposure to an infected individual.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease spread through the air (by coughing, sneezing, talking). Public health is now actively obtaining immunization records for individuals who have been exposed and may contact you to request your assistance in obtaining this information,” said Hasselback, who is also Saskatoon’s Medical Health Officer.
“Individuals who have had two doses of measles-containing vaccine (commonly provided as measles, mumps, rubella [MMR] vaccine) or who have had a lab-confirmed infection in the past are considered immune and not at high risk for infection.”
People who were born after 1970 and did not receive the MMR vaccine are at risk of being infected. The SHA is advising them to isolate at home for 21 days after the date of their last known exposure. Individuals exposed to the virus should expect symptoms to appear anywhere from seven to 21 days after exposure. The symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. A rash, usually starting on the face and spreading over the body, will also develop after two days.
Hasselback, in the letter, added that if one develops symptoms, they should call their healthcare provider and inform them of their exposure, so they can be assessed to minimize the risk of further exposing others.
“Measles is contagious before early symptoms develop, which is four to five days before a person develops a rash, and remains contagious until 4 days after the rash appears… If you require further medical attention, it is crucial [to] call ahead to your health care provider as mentioned above,” said Hasselback.
She advised those who have symptoms and are awaiting lab results to avoid crowded places, especially those who are not immune to the virus, for at least five days. You are no longer considered contagious after the rash appears.
