Grand Erie Public Health confirms three more measles cases

Almost 20 cases of measles have been confirmed with the Grand Erie Public Health coverage area as the highly contagious disease spreads.

In an update on Friday, the health unit said three new cases were identified in Norfolk County, bringing the total within their borders to 19. Grand Erie Public Health covers Haldimand County, Norfolk County, Brantford and Brant County.

All three of the people involved in the latest cases are recovering at home and it is not clear how they were exposed to the illness.

The following locations are considered to be possible exposure sites:

Walsingham Christian School, 6th Concession Rd, Walsingham, Jan. 20-21, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Houghton Public School, RR #5, Langton, Jan. 21, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:05 p.m.

LaSalette Old Colony School, 71 La Salette Rd, La Salette, Jan. 21 – 22, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Jan. 24, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Delhi Community Health Centre Walk-In Clinic, 105 Main St. Delhi, Jan. 23, 2025, from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Langton Arena, 30 Albert St., Langton, Jan. 25, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, Emergency Department, 167 Rolph St., Tillsonburg, Jan. 25, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jan. 26-27, 2025, from 10:37 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.

Woodstock General Hospital, Emergency Department, 310 Juliana Dr., Woodstock, Jan. 27, 2025, from 10:41 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Norfolk General Hospital, Emergency Department, 365 W St., Simcoe, Jan. 27, 2025, from 9:10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Grand Erie Public Health cases involve three adults and 16 children.

Earlier this week, public health officials declared a measles outbreak in southwestern Ontario. At that time, Southwestern Public Health, which serves Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas, was reporting three cases of the disease in children in addition to the 16 cases previously reported by Grand Erie Public Health.

Symptoms of measles

The most common symptoms of measles are a fever, cough, runny nose and red and watery eyes. A rash, which will look like red spots with blotchy patches, will start on the face and then spread down the body to the arms and legs.

One reason measles is so highly contagious is that it is an airborne disease that can hang around in the air up to two hours after an infected person has left. Anyone with the illness is also contagious four days before, and up to four days after, the rash appears.

Symptoms usually start anytime between 7 and 21 days after exposure.

Anyone who suspects they have been exposed to the measles is asked to take extra precautions, such as staying home and avoiding high-risk setting like doctor’s offices, childcare facilities and hospital emergency rooms.

Doctors recommend getting two MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccines.