Ottawa Public Health warns of possible measles exposures at 6 locations

Ottawa Public Health says there was a possible risk of measles exposure at these six locations between Aug. 5 and Aug. 8, 2025.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is advising the public of possible measles exposures at six locations in the city following a confirmed case this month.

This is Ottawa’s fifth confirmed case of measles so far this year, OPH says.

In a news release on Thursday, OPH says the individual is believed to have acquired measles while travelling in western Canada. The public health unit has been directly notifying people who might have been exposed but is issuing a public advisory for others who are unable to be reached.

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“At this time, the risk to the general population remains low. There is currently no evidence of local transmission of measles in Ottawa,” OPH says.

However, the health unit warns measles is highly transmissible.

“Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory infection caused by the measles virus. The measles virus lives in the nose and throat of a person who is infected and can be spread through the air (from breathing, coughing or sneezing); and can survive in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours,” OPH said Thursday.

People who visited the following locations at the following times are asked to monitor for symptoms:

Shoppers Drug Mart at 702 Bank St.

• When: Aug. 5 between 9 and 11:20 p.m. (monitor until Aug. 26)

Michaels at 165 Trainyards Dr.

• When: Aug. 5 between 8:15 and 10:30 p.m. (monitor until Aug. 26)

Fitness Lab at 34 Beech St.

• When: Aug. 6 between 5:45 and 8:45 a.m. (monitor until Aug. 27)

Wilf and Ada’s at 510 Bank St.

• When: Aug. 7 between 12:30 and 4 p.m. (monitor until Aug. 28)

Izakaya Shingen at 201 Bank St.

• When: Aug. 8 between 5 to 8 p.m. (monitor until Aug. 29)

Cineplex Odeon (Fantastic 4 - 6:50 p.m. showtime) at 2385 City Park Dr.

• When: Aug. 8, between 6:35 and 10:50 p.m. (monitor until Aug. 29)

If you’ve visited these locations during the specified times, you’re asked to monitor for symptoms, even if you’ve been vaccinated.

Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, white spots in the mouth, and red watery eyes that may be sensitive to light. They can appear up to 21 days after exposure but usually occur within seven to 12 days, OPH says.

A few days after symptoms begin, a red rash usually develops that starts on the face and spreads down the body to the arms and legs. This rash usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms generally last from one to two weeks.

The Ottawa Hospital says an isolated case of measles identified at the General Campus emergency department is the same one identified by Ottawa Public Health. An Ottawa Hospital spokesperson says all staff, physicians and inpatients who may have been exposed are in the process of being notified.

“We are working closely with Ottawa Public Health (OPH) to reach anyone else directly who may have been exposed while in our Emergency Department,” the Ottawa Hospital says.

“When a case of measles is confirmed at The Ottawa Hospital, we follow rigorous Infection Prevention and Control protocols and public health standards, which includes notifying inpatients and staff who may have been exposed. The Ottawa Hospital works closely with Ottawa Public Health to determine if individuals who may have been exposed have immunity to the virus, and if not, which further steps are required.”

How to know if you’ve been vaccinated against measles

The measles vaccine is typically noted as “MMR”, “MMRV” or “M” on records.

Most children in Ontario receive two doses of measles vaccine by age seven based on the current routine vaccine schedule: one at 12 months of age, and another between four to six years of age.

People born before 1970 likely had measles in the past and are generally considered immune (protected).

People born in, or after 1970, are considered fully protected from a known exposure to measles if they have had two doses of measles vaccine.

Check with your health care provider if you are unsure about your vaccination status.

Visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Measles to learn more about where to access measles-containing and other vaccines.