MEDICAL ADVISORY: Confirmed Case of Measles in Niagara, March 8, 2019

Issued by: Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health

Background

Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services is investigating a laboratory confirmed case of measles in an adult who acquired their infection while travelling outside Canada.

Airline exposure locations on Feb. 22, 2019:

Departing Flight, Siem Reap, Cambodia on Cathay Pacific Flight #5249 at 11:20 a.m.
Arriving Flight, Hong Kong, China, Cathay Pacific #5249 at 15:00
Departing Flight, Hong Kong, China, Air Canada #16 at 16:30
Arriving Flight, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1, Air Canada #16 at 18:20
Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1, 18:20 – 21:30

Exposure location on Feb. 27, 2019 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. – midnight:

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, 169 Main Street E. Grimsby, Emergency Room and X - Ray Unit (First Floor)

Individuals who may have been to the above mentioned locations are being asked to watch for signs and symptoms and to ensure their vaccinations are up to date.

Measles vaccination within 72 hours of exposure may provide some protection after exposure to measles, however in this particular case, that time window has passed. Therefore, we are recommending that you defer the vaccination for one month.

Measles Vaccination Recommendations:

Adults 18 years of age and older born in or after 1970 require one dose of measles vaccine

Two doses of measles vaccine is recommended for:

Children 12 months to less than 18 years of age
Health care workers
Adults attending post-secondary institutions

Adults born before 1970 are generally considered immune.

Infection Prevention and Control Practices

Patients with suspected measles should be promptly isolated in a negative air pressure room. If you do not have access to a negative pressure room, the patient should wear a surgical mask and be immediately placed in a single room with the door closed.
Measles virus can remain airborne for two hours, no further patients should be placed within the room for a two-hour period (this could be sooner dependent on the number of air exchanges)
You may consider giving patients with suspect measles the last appointment of the day
Only immune staff should provide care to suspect cases of measles

Reporting

Please report all suspect and confirmed cases to Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services, Infectious Disease program immediately at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7330, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., after hours 905-984-3690.