Measles exposure reported at York Region hospital, transit routes also affected

A doctor wears a lab coat and stethoscope in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary, Friday, July 14, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

York Region Public Health is warning of six public measles exposure sites tied to a newly confirmed case from an individual who recently travelled outside of Canada.

It’s unclear when the person contracted the disease or which country they visited, but when they arrived, officials say they attended multiple locations including a hospital and several York Region transit routes.

“This measles case is not a York Region resident, so we are unable to comment on the travel or duration of the case,” a spokesperson for York Region Public Health told CTV News Toronto.

They noted that prior to this case, York Region has had “zero cases of measles in 2026.”

The exposure sites include:

Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital Emergency Department — Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. Officials say to watch for symptoms until Saturday, March 21, 2026.

York Region Transit Route 16 – 16th Avenue (servicing Richmond Hill and Markham) — Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch for symptoms until Monday, March 16, 2026.

York Region Transit Route 25 – Major Mackenzie (servicing Richmond Hill and Markham) — Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch for symptoms until Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

York Region Transit Route 16 – 16th Avenue (servicing Richmond Hill and Markham) — Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch for symptoms until Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

York Region Transit Route 16 – 16th Avenue (servicing Richmond Hill and Markham) — Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch for symptoms until Thursday, March 19, 2026.

York Region Transit Route 90B – Leslie (servicing Richmond Hill, Markham and Toronto) — Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Watch for symptoms until Friday, March 20, 2026.

Possible exposure?

Public health officials are advising anyone who may have been exposed to:

Confirm they and their family members have received two doses of measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV). Those born before 1970 likely had measles illness as a child and are considered protected.

In addition, officials say you should contact public health if you were present with an infant under 12 months old or are immunocompromised, as they say you may be eligible for preventative treatment.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of measles can appear seven to 21 days after exposure.

Those exposed, may experience:

• High fever, cough and runny nose
• Red, watery eyes such as pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• A red rash that typically begins on the head and neck before spreading downward to the chest, arms and legs. The rash is usually not itchy and appears three to seven days after other symptoms begin.