Sarnia-area public health officials ready for potential measles cases
No cases of measles have shown up recently in the Sarnia area but Lambton Public Health says it is prepared if they do.
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No cases of measles have shown up recently in the Sarnia area but Lambton Public Health says it is prepared if they do.
Nine cases have been reported so far this year in Ontario, including in London and Windsor, with all but one associated with travel, according to Public Health Ontario.
“We are working with all partners to ensure preparedness in Lambton County,” Karalyn Dueck, medical officer of health, said following Wednesday’s Lambton County council meeting.
Those partners include provincial public health officials and local health care providers and school boards, Dueck said.
She said no cases of measles have been reported in Lambton for at least the last 10 years. Public Health Ontario says the recent cases in the province have been reported in seven different public health units.
“To date, the majority of the cases of measles in Ontario this year were imported,” Dueck said. “Meaning they came from areas of travel where measles is endemic. Measles is not endemic in Canada or Ontario.”
The highly contagious virus spreads easily through the air, or through contact with respiratory secretions on surfaces, and can live suspended in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours, Lambton Public Health said in a report.
It said symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, red watery eyes and drowsiness, followed by a red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and progresses down the body.
Unvaccinated infants, unvaccinated pregnant individuals and those who are immunocompromised are at most risk. There’s no specific treatment for measles, other than supportive care, the report said.
“The best protection from measles is vaccination,” Dueck said. “The vaccine is highly effective.”
Because measles is “so contagious, you do need the majority of the population covered with measles immunization,” she said.
Lambton County has “very good childhood immunization coverage rates to protect against measles,” the report said.
Dueck thanked families in the community for their efforts to ensure childhood immunizations are up to date.
Lambton returned to requiring reporting of childhood immunizations this school year after pausing the requirement during the pandemic.
As of Tuesday, seven local elementary school pupils and 59 high school students were suspended because their records weren’t up to date, Lambton Public Health said.
Anyone else who is unsure if their vaccinations are up to date should check their “yellow” immunization card or ask their health care provider, Dueck said.
“If someone thinks that they have measles, they should absolutely call the health care facility before they come to let them know,” she said.
That will allow the facility to take steps to protect other patients and health care staff, Dueck said.
If a case is reported locally, Lambton Public Health would lead case investigation which includes management of close contacts of the individual, the report said.
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