People in Stratford are being advised to monitor for symptoms of measles after another possible exposure site was identified in the city.
Huron Perth Public Health issued an advisory on Friday stating that anyone who was at the Cambria Professional Centre between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. April 16 may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus.
"Anyone who was at this location during this timeframe needs to monitor for measles signs and symptoms for 21 days after exposure," the health unit said in a statement. "This includes those who were present at the location only briefly as measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours.
This is the third possible measles exposure reported in the region covered by Huron Perth Public Health this week. On Wednesday, the health unit advised of an exposure last Saturday night at the Stratford General Hospital emergency department waiting room and on Tuesday an exposure was reported in the Listowel Memorial Hospital emergency room for the morning of April 16.
The latest local exposure warning comes a day after Public Health Ontario confirmed the total number of measles cases has surged to 1,020 since the outbreak in the province began last October. In the past week alone, another 95 new cases were confirmed, according to Public Health Ontario. Three-quarters of those infected in Ontario have been infants, children, teens. The bulk of cases have been in people who have not been immunized against the virus.
Measles is an airborne virus that can spread through coughing, sneezing, talking, and breathing. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, red water eyes, and a red blotchy rash.
Anyone who has been exposed to measles and has developed symptoms is asked to report it to Huron Perth Public Health calling 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3284. Additionally, anyone with symptoms should stay home, avoid contact with other people, and if in need of medical care, should call ahead before going to any medical facility.