Measles

Huron Perth Public Health completes case management and contact tracing for confirmed cases of measles. If during a contact tracing investigation we cannot reach everyone who was exposed, we notify the public of a possible "community exposure."

If you were present at the below locations during the timelines shown, you may have been exposed to measles. 

The best way to protect against measles is vaccination. Two doses of measles-containing vaccine (i.e., MMR and/or MMRV) is over 97% effective in preventing a measles infection. 

The measles vaccine is a publicly funded, routine childhood vaccine in Ontario. Check your vaccination records or ask your healthcare provider to confirm your vaccinations. If you’ve reported your child’s vaccinations to public health, you can view their record online through Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON).

With Huron Perth Public Health being an area of concern for measles, and in consultation with the Ministry of Health, measles vaccine eligibility is now expanded to those who live, work, play, travel to, or worship within the Huron Perth Public Health region.

Infants 

• Infants aged 6 months to 11 months are eligible to receive a dose of measles-containing vaccine for earlier protection against measles. Because the infant immune system is less mature, these infants will still require two doses of measles-containing vaccine after one year of age. Typically, in Ontario, children receive their first dose of measles vaccine (MMR) at one year of age.

Children

• A second dose of measles-containing vaccine for children can be given before the age of 4 in consultation with your healthcare provider. Typically, in Ontario, children receive a measles booster dose between the ages of four and six – preferably before starting school.
• It is strongly recommended for under-immunized children who are in school or childcare to receive measles vaccine.

Adults

• Adults born before 1970 are generally considered protected against measles. Adults born before 1970 who work in healthcare may be recommended to receive measles vaccine. Consult with your healthcare provider.
• Adults born in 1970 or after are advised to have two doses of measles-containing vaccine. Many people would have received these as childhood immunizations. 

Pregnant or immunocompromised

• People who are pregnant or immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) are generally not recommended to receive a measles-containing vaccine. Consult a healthcare provider if you're not previously vaccinated and are at risk of exposure to measles.

Please note: anyone who lives, works, plays, travels to, or worships in Huron Perth is eligible for measles vaccination through their healthcare provider and/or local public health unit if they meet the current criteria. However, current HPPH measles vaccination clinics are for Huron Perth residents.

For questions about the measles vaccine, contact the HPPH Measles Information line at 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3299 or measlesinfoline@hpph.ca.

Symptoms of measles begin 7 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms often start with:

• fever
• runny nose
• cough, and/or
• red eyes

About three to seven days after symptoms begin, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and then spreads down the body.

The rash can last for four to seven days. Individuals with measles are contagious from four days before the rash begins until four days after the rash starts.

If you think you may have been exposed to the measles virus: 

• Assess your risk of exposure using the online Measles Exposure Self-Assessment Tool.
• Ensure you are up to date with the measles vaccine.
• Contact a healthcare provider if you are at increased risk. Those at higher risk for measles infection include:
  • infants less than 12 months of age
  • pregnant individuals who have not received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine
  • individuals with compromised immune system.
• Monitor for symptoms of measles for 21 days following exposure, even if you are up to date with your measles vaccinations.

Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible, or contact HPPH’s Infectious Disease team at idteam@hpph.ca or 1-888-221-2133 Ext. 3284.

If you think you have measles:

1. 1. Stay home and avoid contact with others.

   2. Call ahead before you visit a doctor, clinic, or hospital so they can prepare for your arrival and prevent virus spread.

   3. Wear a well-fitted medical mask if you need to go out for medical care.

Your healthcare provider will assess you for measles and may test you if they think you may have measles.

• If you're diagnosed with measles, a healthcare provider or laboratory will report your test result to your local public health unit. Your local public health unit will contact you to try to figure out:
  • how you became infected
  • who you've been in contact with to determine if they could have been exposed.

This process, called contact tracing, is carried out to prevent the spread of measles to others.

There is no cure (such as an antiviral or antibiotic) for a measles infection.  
Most people fully recover from measles within two to three weeks. Sometimes measles can cause complications, such as pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea, hearing loss, brain swelling (encephalitis), seizures, or, rarely, even death.

About measles | Ministry of Health

Measles: What you should know fact sheet | Health Canada

What should parents know about measles | Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

1. Check your  immunization records (such as the yellow Ontario vaccination card) to see if you have had two doses of measles-containing vaccine after age one.
2. If you cannot find documentation of two doses of measles-containing vaccine, and you or your child’s immunizations were reported to public health, you can check the record online through Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON).
3. If you still cannot find documentation of two doses of measles-containing vaccine, ask your healthcare provider to provide your immunization record. Your previous healthcare provider may also have immunization records that may be requested. 

If no immunization record can be found, assume you are unvaccinated. Book an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss next steps. 

Measles is a reportable disease in Ontario, which means healthcare providers and hospitals must report suspect and confirmed cases of measles to the local health unit. Measles is diagnosed by a healthcare provider.

When a health unit such as HPPH receives a report about suspect or confirmed measles, a risk assessment and contact tracing investigation begins.  HPPH then reaches out to everyone who may have been exposed.  If during a contact tracing investigation we cannot reach everyone who was exposed, we notify the public of a possible "community exposure." 

If there is an exposure at your school, HPPH will notify everyone who may have been exposed. Also, individuals in the school (such as educators, support staff, and students) who are not up to date with their measles immunizations, who do not have proof of measles immunity, or who have a documented vaccination exemption and are thus susceptible to measles, may be excluded from attending school. This is to protect unimmunized individuals from health risks associated with a measles exposure.  

Measles is currently circulating in Huron and Perth among undervaccinated people. The best way to protect you and your family from getting measles is to ensure you are all up-to-date on your vaccinations. Two doses of measles-containing vaccine (i.e., MMR and/or MMRV) is over 97% effective in preventing a measles infection. 

Those at higher risk for measles infection include:

• infants less than 12 months of age
• pregnant individuals who have not received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine
• individuals with compromised immune systems.

Vaccination is not an option for some of those at higher risk (e.g. pregnant individuals, infants less than 6 months of age, etc.). Because measles is currently circulating in Huron-Perth, high-risk individuals can consider additional precautions such as:

• Ensure household members and other close contacts are up to date on their measles vaccinations.
• Choose activities that are lower risk, and reduce your chances of being in contact with ill people:
• Outdoor events are safer than crowded, indoor events.
• Choose/host events where people have been asked to stay home if they are ill with measles symptoms or if they have been recently exposed to measles.

To report a suspect case of measles or exposure:
E-mail the Infectious Disease team at IDteam@hpph.ca (indicate urgency/healthcare provider in subject line for quickest response) or leave a voicemail message at 888-221-2133 ext. 3284.

To ask about measles vaccine:
E-mail the Immunization team at immunization@hpph.ca (indicate urgency/healthcare provider in subject line for quickest response) or leave a voicemail message at 888-221-2133 ext. 3558.

Urgent requests
If you need an urgent consultation, please call 888-221-2133 press 1 and advise Reception that you are a healthcare provider with an urgent measles-related matter. Note: the public Measles Information Line is for general inquiries only.

HPPH Public Health Update Measles March 18 2025

HPPH Public Health Update Measles March 11 2025 

HPPH Public Health Alert Measles March 6 2025

Measles Information for Healthcare Providers | Public Health Ontario

Measles in Ontario: Enhanced Epidemiological Summary | Public Health Ontario