A health unit in midwestern Ontario has reported more new measles cases than any other region in the province over the past week.
Public Health Ontario noted 32 new cases of the highly contagious virus from July 8 to 15, with 19 confirmed in Huron-Perth. This brings the total case count for the area under Huron Perth Public Health to 278 since the outbreak started last October. Across Ontario, there have been a total of 2,276 cases.
The infection rate in Huron-Perth is now at 178.1 cases per 100,000 people. This is significantly higher than Grey-Bruce’s infection rate of 28.7 cases per 100,000 people. Only one new case was reported in Grey-Bruce during the last week.
The recent increase in Huron-Perth was said to be due to exposure at a private gathering. The region continues to have the third highest overall case count in Ontario, following Southwestern Public Health and Grand Erie Public Health.
Earlier this week, Huron Perth Public Health issued a warning about potential exposure at St. Marys Memorial Hospital. Anyone who visited the emergency department between 8:55 a. m. and 11:35 a. m. on Monday may have been exposed to measles. The health unit has advised anyone present during that time frame to watch for symptoms, which can take up to 21 days to develop. Symptoms of measles include fever, red blotchy rash, red watery eyes, and cough.
Public health officials have emphasized that vaccination is the best way to protect against measles.
“Almost all infant, child, and adolescent outbreak cases (96.3 per cent) were unimmunized, while 68.5 per cent of adults were unimmunized,” Public Health Ontario stated in its latest report on measles released Thursday.
Alberta and New Brunswick are also facing outbreaks.
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