The Northwestern Health Unit is reporting a case of Measles in the Kenora area. The individual diagnosed with Measles is following appropriate health measures but if you were at the Emergency Room in Kenora on Dec 22nd between 6-10pm, Kenora Library on December 23rd from 1:30pm-4:30pm or at the Emergency Room in Kenora on December 26th and 27th from 3pm-2am you are asked to call the Northwestern Health Unit IF you were born after January 1st, 1970 and you don’t have your measles vaccines.
The Northwestern Health Unit says “Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious complications. The virus can live in the air for up to two hours, even after the person with measles has left the area. A person with measles is contagious four days before and four days after the rash appears.”
The NWHU continues to state “The virus spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The first symptoms of measles are a fever, a runny nose, sneezing, a cough, and red, sore, watery eyes. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. A rash usually appears after two to three days and starts on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.” It’s important to monitor for symptoms 21 days after exposure.
You can call the NWHU emergency line: 1-866-475-6505 or their regular office hour line: 1-800-830-5978
You do NOT need to call to get the measles vaccination urgently if you were NOT at any of the locations indicated, OR if you were born before January 1, 1970 OR you have had 2 doses of measles vaccine (MMR vaccine) OR you have lab confirmation of immunity.
More details can be found HERE
