Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph is seeing increasing spread of measles across the region. As of April 22, there are 30 confirmed and probable cases within Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph.
“I’m encouraging anyone who is not fully vaccinated to take action today,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health and CEO. “Measles can have serious consequences – especially for children and immunocompromised people. Two doses of the measles vaccine offer 99% protection against the virus.”
Measles spreads easily through the air from person to person when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain active for as long as two hours after a contagious person has left the area. You can get sick with measles by being in the same room or even in a different part of the same building as someone who is contagious. Measles can spread to others even before infected individuals start to show symptoms.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)
- Red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads over the rest of the body
If you are not fully vaccinated or have any symptoms or questions, contact your healthcare provider or visit wdgpublichealth.ca/measles for more information.
Media Contact
Danny Williamson
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
1-800-265-7293 ext. 4376