Saskatchewan health officials are warning of a potential measles exposure risk in the town of Rosthern on Wednesday. In a news release Friday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said anyone who went to the Rosthern Gas Plus on Highway 312 between 6:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. Wednesday may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. Measles spreads very easily through the air and can live up to two hours in the air or on surfaces in a space where a person has coughed or sneezed, the SHA says. SHA says to call the HealthLine 811 if you believe you may have been exposed, and you are either unvaccinated, unsure about your vaccination status, or if you develop symptoms. Symptoms of measles exposure may be mistaken for another viral infection at first, with fever, cough, runny nose and fatigue at the outset. Around three to seven days after symptoms begin, a characteristic red, blotchy rash begins to develop on the face and spreads down the body. If you’re symptomatic, the SHA says call the HealthLine for information and instructions. Do not show up at a clinic in person. Measles is best prevented by vaccination, the health authority says. For information about exposure alerts and immunization, check the SHA website.
