Measles ‘top of mind’ for eastern Ontario health units as regional cases grow

A vial of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is on display at the Lubbock Health Department Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)

Health units in Ontario continue to investigate cases of measles across the province, with Public Health Ontario reporting 655 cases (560 confirmed, 95 probable) as of April 2.

Thirteen health units across the province have been impacted, including the South East Health Unit (SEHU) in eastern Ontario – a new unit this year that combines three public health units in the Kingston, Ont. region.

SEHU reported 43 measles cases in Hastings County on April 4, along with a confirmed case in Kingston on Sunday.

Health officials are also investigating possible measles exposures in Renfrew County in the communities of Cobden and Petawawa. No confirmed or probable cases have been found in Ottawa.

“This is very much top of mind for all physicians in this province, in this region,” said Dr. Piotr Oglaza, SEHU’s medical officer of health and CEO.

Four instances of potential measles exposure in Kingston were identified by SEHU between March 29 and April 3 because of that single confirmed case.

Two exposures were reported at Duncan McArthur Hall at 511 Union St. on March 29 and March 30. A third potential exposure was detected on a Megabus travelling from Kington to Scarborough and a fourth at the Hotel Dieu Hospital Urgent Care Centre at 166 Brock St. on April 3.

Health officials say anyone who was at any of those locations during certain times of the day should check their vaccination records and monitor symptoms for 21 days following the exposure date.

Symptoms of measles start between seven to 21 days after exposure and may include:

• High fever, cough, runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (pink eye or conjunctivitis)
• Red blotchy rash

“You don’t need to be in close proximity to the individual to get exposed and subsequently sick if you’re susceptible,” Oglaza said. “You could just share the same airspace and that’s the unique characteristic of measles.”

Those born before 1970 would likely have had measles as a child and are protected. If you are not vaccinated or have had only one dose of measles vaccine, you are eligible for vaccination through SEHU and primary care clinics.

“A community like ours here in Kingston, is well prepared, well protected,” Oglaza said.

“We’ve historically had high levels of immunization coverage, including, measles, mumps, rubella, measles in particular.”

Anyone who was at an exposed location with an infant under 12 months of age during exposure, is pregnant and unvaccinated, unsure of their immunity to measles, or is immunocompromised, should contact Kingston’s SEHU office immediately.

The SEHU’s Kingston office can be reached at 613-549-1232.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s William Eltherington.