12 more potential measles exposure sites identified in Waterloo Region

The Region of Waterloo’s public health unit has added 12 more locations to its list of potential measles exposure sites.

As of Wednesday, there were a total of 21 places identified on public health’s website.

The new additions include:

• The Indian Supermarket on Wilson Avenue from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 4
• Walmart at Fairview Park Mall from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 4
• St. Jacobs Midwives on Parkside Drive from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on May 6
• Eastbridge Medical on Eastbridge Blvd. from 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on May 6
• KWIC Walk-in Clinic on Manitou Drive from 2:20 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 7
• KWIC Physiotherapy on Manitou Drive from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 7
• OM India Food Centre on Manitou Drive from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on May 7
• Cambridge Gateway Medical Centre on Hespeler Road from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 8
• Hespeler Medical Clinic on Conestoga Blvd. from 2:10 p.m. to 5 p.m. on May 8
• McDonald’s on Hespeler Road from 5:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on May 8
• Food Basics on Arthur Street South in Elmira from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 9
• Food Basics on Arthur Street South in Elmira from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 10

The following locations were previously listed on public health’s website:

• Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud) from 6 p.m. on April 24 to 1 a.m. on April 25
• Waterloo Region Health Network @ Midtown (formerly Grand River Hospital) from 9:20 p.m. on April 26 to 4:20 a.m. on April 27
• Waterloo Region Health Network @ Queen’s (formerly St. Mary’s General Hospital) from 8:15 p.m. on May 3 to 12:23 a.m. on May 4
• Waterloo Region Health Network @ Queen’s (formerly St. Mary’s General Hospital) from 11 p.m. on May 4 to 9:50 a.m. on May 6
• Chick-fil-A restaurant on Hespeler Road in Cambridge from 4 p.m. to 10:14 p.m. on May 1
• Elite Auto Care on Hespeler Road in Cambridge from 2:55 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on May 2
• V Nails and Beauty on Hespeler Road in Cambridge from 4:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 2
• Shoppers Drug Mart at 700 Strasburg Road in Kitchener from 10:30 p.m. on May 3 to 1 a.m. on May 4
• Cambridge Memorial Hospital (ER) from 5:25 p.m. on May 8 to 1:25 a.m. on May 9

As of May 8, a total of 48 measles cases had been reported in the Region of Waterloo.

That same week, 920 secondary school students were suspended because their vaccinations records were not up-to-date. Public health said 5,032 suspension orders were initially sent out to parents in mid-March to remind then of the May 7 suspension deadline.

According to Public Health Ontario’s latest epidemiological summary, there were 1,440 confirmed or probable cases of measles in the province between Oct. 18, 2024 and May 6, 2025.

What to know about measles

Measles is a highly contagious virus. The disease can spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. Even brief exposure to measles can result in illness.

Symptoms include a fever, runny nose, cough, red watery eyes, small white spots inside the mouth and a red blotchy rash. Other signs of measles include diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia. In severe cases, measles can cause brain inflammation and death.

It usually takes between seven and 21 days for symptoms to show up.

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to measles is asked to stay at home and avoid contact with others. If medical treatment is needed, people are urged to contact their health provider ahead of time to prevent the illness from spreading to other patients.