Grey Bruce Public Health has found another lab-confirmed measles case in an unvaccinated child.
In a media release, GBPH officials announced one potential measles exposure location linked to this case.
Exposure occurred at the emergency department at Brightshores Health System’s Owen Sound Hospital between 4:40 p.m. on April 20, 2025, and 10:35 a.m. on April 21, 2025.
GBPH is working on contacting all registered patients who were at the emergency department within this exposure window. However, individuals who were not registered, but were in the emergency department during this timeframe, may not have been identified and contacted.
Anyone who was present at this location during these times should do the following:
Confirm vaccination status. Ensure all individuals in the household are up to date on measles vaccination. In general, those born before 1970 are considered immune against measles. Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine are recommended for anyone born after 1970. If unsure of vaccination status, individuals should check with their healthcare provider or ICON.
If not protected against measles, individuals should contact their healthcare provider or Public Health to receive post-exposure treatment, if it’s been six days or less since exposure, or to receive a measles-containing vaccine for lifelong protection.
Monitor for measles symptoms, which generally start 7 to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms can include high fever, cold-like symptoms (cough/runny nose), sore eyes, and sensitivity to light. About three to seven days after symptoms begin, a rash typically appears. The rash looks like red spots and blotchy patches that start on the face then spread down the body, arms and legs.
If an individual develops measles symptoms, they should immediately isolate at home and call a healthcare provider. Household members who are not immune to measles should also stay home during this period and consult with public health. If medical care is required, call ahead to a healthcare facility before arriving in-person, so the facility can take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading to others.
Ontario is currently experiencing a multi-jurisdictional measles outbreak. As of April 23, 1,020 measles cases have been reported in 15 Public Health Unit areas since October 2024.