Search This Blog
Monday, November 8, 2010
Toronto Public Health advising residents about measles exposure
Toronto Public Health is reminding the public to ensure their measles vaccination is up to date after an individual contagious with measles inadvertently exposed other people to the illness at multiple locations.
The risk for the general public is low. People born before 1970 are presumed to be immune.
As a precaution, Toronto Public Health is asking anyone born in or after 1970, who has not received two doses of the measles vaccine and was at the following locations at the following times to watch for signs and symptoms of measles. Symptoms usually occur between one and three weeks after exposure. If symptoms develop, seek medical attention. Be sure to call ahead and advise the medical facility that you may have been exposed to measles.
Date, time and location of potential measles exposure:
October 26, 1 - 4:30 p.m., Fine Asian Bowl restaurant, 1634 Bayview Ave., Toronto
October 27, 3 - 5 p.m., Design Source Furniture, 203 Wildcat Rd., Toronto
October 30, 8 a.m. to November 1, 11 a.m., Sunnybrook Hospital Emergency Room
Toronto Public Heath is working with the hospital to contact those people who may have been exposed.
Symptoms of measles include: cough, runny nose, fever, white spots in the mouth and red watery eyes that are sensitive to light. These symptoms are followed by a red rash which lasts about six days.
Measles is highly contagious and is spread through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person. Measles can also be spread through the air. A person with measles can infect others from four days before to four days after the appearance of a rash.
Most people who get the measles are sick for about 10 days, and recover completely without any treatment. Measles can be more severe for infants. Complications of measles include pneumonia (lung infection), and encephalitis (swelling/inflammation of the brain). Pregnant women with measles can have premature delivery and miscarriages. Measles decreases the body’s ability to fight off other infections for several months.
A fact sheet on measles is available at http://www.toronto.ca/health.
Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment