Public Health warns about measles exposure

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health has determined that an indi­vidual with red measles may have exposed other people to the illness at different loca­tions in the city.
On the weekend, Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health, continued to stress the importance of immunization as staff began to inves­tigate a third case of red measles in the city.  
The risk for the general public is considered low be­cause most people are immu­nized or have been exposed during a past illness. The risk is higher for those people who have not had two shots of MMR.
As a precaution, WDGPH is asking anyone born after 1970 who attended the following places at the fol­lowing times to call 519-846-2715 extension 2971:
- Guelph General Hospital Emergency Room 115 Delhi Street, on April 6,  between 1:30 to 5:30pm;
- John McCrae Public School, 189 Water Street between March 31 and April 1;  or
- the Fat Duck Gastro Pub on April 3, 4, 5.
Check the website www.­wdghu.­org  for further infor­ma­tion on measles and immu­ni­zation for children and adults.
Symptoms of measles in­clude: cough, runny nose, fev­er, white spots in the mouth and red watery eyes that are sensi­tive to light. These symptoms are followed by a red rash which lasts about six days.
Measles is highly conta­gi­ous and spread by droplets and direct contact with nasal and throat secretions of an infected person. Measles can also be spread through the air. A person with measles can infect others from approximately four days before to four days after the onset of rash.
For a fact sheet on measles, visit the website at www.­wdghu.­org