Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is currently investigating a cluster of five measles cases. These cases are making visible links between particular neighborhoods in the city. Ontario only recently declared the province’s measles outbreak over on October 6. This exciting announcement comes almost a year after community transmission began with exposure to one of the first travel-related New Brunswick cases.
This was the same outbreak that had started almost a year earlier before finally being resolved. It caused a domino effect of infections across Ontario—all originating from that one travel-related case. OPH is now zeroing in on two church locations where there may have been potential exposure. If you were on any of these sites between the highlighted time periods, don’t wait any longer. Monitor yourself for symptoms at least twice daily for the next 21 days.
The locations of concern include St. Clement Parish at Saint Anne Church, located at 528 Old St. Patrick Street, where exposure may have taken place on Sunday, October 12, between 10:20 a.m. and 2 p.m. St. George’s Parish, 415 Piccadilly Avenue. Anyone who visited during possible exposure time, which is Monday, September 29, through Thursday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A tell-tale bright red rash initially often spreads to the body, starting with the cheeks. It then moves down the body a few days after other symptoms appear. From January 1 through October 14, we have seen 47 cases of measles. These cases are unrelated to the current outbreak.
In order to protect the public, OPH is working quickly to inform everyone who has been exposed to measles virus. They follow up to the extent they can, when contact info exists.
“OPH is directly notifying individuals who may have been exposed to the measles virus, where contact information is available,” – Ottawa Public Health
OPH recently released a public service announcement. This is intended to get to everybody who has the potential to be impacted, but you weren’t able to reach directly, or their data is just partially filled out or missing.
“This public service announcement is intended to reach individuals who may have been exposed but could not be reached directly or whose contact information was incomplete or unavailable,” – Ottawa Public Health
