Public health warns of new measles exposure at Montreal airport

Travellers at Trudeau airport in Montreal, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes.

Public health officials are warning the public about another case of measles after an infected person passed through the Montreal International Airport last month.

The person, who is not a resident of Montreal, was on the Vol Aero Mexico flight AM680 from Mexico to Montreal on Jan. 21, according to Montreal public health. The case was reported on Wednesday.

• Montreal Children’s Hospital warns of possible measles exposure in the ER

People who were on the flight between 1 a.m. and 7:25 a.m. or visited the arrivals area of the Montreal airport between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. are urged to check if they are protected from measles and to monitor for symptoms until Feb. 11. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and a widespread rash.

People who are considered immune do not have to take any action. People are immune if they have received two doses of the measles vaccine.

People are also considered to be immune from measles even though they have not received any doses of the vaccine if they: were born before 1970; serology shows the presence of measles antibodies; a medical certificate confirms that you had measles before Jan. 1, 1996; or diagnostic evidence confirms a previous infection.

Quebec residents can book an appointment to get the vaccine by visiting Clic Santé or by calling 1-877-644-4545.

The list of places and dates of possible exposure to measles is available on the Government of Quebec website.

The recent airport case brings the number of confirmed cases not linked to the current outbreak to three. In Quebec, the officials say there are nine confirmed measles cases related to the current outbreak.

The last outbreak in Quebec lasted from December 2024 to April 19, 2025.

The outbreak comes as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) urged countries, including Canada, to intensify vaccination and surveillance of the disease, which last year claimed the lives of two people in Canada.