Potential measles exposure serves as awareness opportunity

Increased awareness has been a positive side-effect resulting from a recent case of possible measles exposure in Halifax, according to public health's Dr. Jessica Jackman.

Over the weekend, the Nova Scotia Health Authority issued an advisory to say those who visited the Halifax Infirmary's emergency department on Wednesday, April 17 between midnight and 12:30 p.m. may have been exposed to measles.

NSHA says a someone went to the hospital for symptoms unrelated to the virus, but later developed measles and they were communicable at the time of the visit to the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

Since then, the health authority says calls have doubled from concerned residents asking about measles exposure and vaccination records.

Dr. Jackman is pleased the public is engaged.

“Having so many people interested, calling us and asking us questions, I think is a really positive sign that people are hearing some of our messages around checking your immunization record,” she says.

In an interview last month, Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Strang said the measles vaccine was introduced in the 1970s and those born before 1970 are thought to have a natural immunity.

The first dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) is given to children at 12 months of age as part of their routine vaccination schedule. A second dose is given to preschool-aged children.

However, that second dose wasn't introduced until 1996, so those born between 1970 and 1991 may not have received it.

If you're not sure of your status, in many cases, Jackman says primary health providers or local public health officials could have vaccination records.

Officials will work also with residents born out-of-province on a case-by-case basis to help them track down their files.

“Getting immunized, that not only protects your own health, but it really does protect others in society who can't be immunized,” Jackman says.

NSHA says if anyone was exposed to the measles on April 17, they could develop symptoms anytime before May 8.

Most who contract it fully recover within two to three weeks, but there can be serious complications which are more likely in infants, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
 
Symptoms of measles include:

• fever, cough, runny nose;
• red eyes;
• a red blotchy rash on the face, which spreads down the body;
• sleepiness;
• irritability (feeling cranky or in a bad mood);
• small white spots inside the mouth and throat;

If you think you could have measles, you are asked to call your health care provider or 811 before going to seek treatment so staff can take special precautions to protect other patients from being exposed.