Grey Bruce Public Health is advising of a new measles exposure location.
They say in a relese Thursday, as part of an ongoing contact-tracing investigation, they have determined people could have been exposed to the measles virus if they were at the South East Grey Community Health Centre (55 Victoria Ave., Markdale)
on Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, between approximately 2:25 and 5 p.m.
They say anyone who was at the location during the exposure window should do the following:
“Confirm vaccination status. Ensure all individuals in the household are up to date on measles vaccination. In general, those born before 1970 are considered immune against measles. Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MMR or MMRV) are recommended for anyone born after 1970. If unsure of vaccination status, individuals should check with their healthcare provider or ICON.”
Public Health says, “If not protected against measles, individuals should contact their healthcare provider or Grey Bruce Public Health to receive post-exposure treatment, if it’s been six days or less since exposure, or to receive a measles-containing vaccine for lifelong protection.”
They say, “Monitor for measles symptoms, which generally start 7 to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms can include high fever, cold-like symptoms (cough/runny nose), sore eyes, and sensitivity to light. About three to seven days after symptoms begin, a rash typically appears. The rash looks like red spots and blotchy patches that start on the face then spread down the body, arms and legs.”
The Health Unit adds, “If an individual develops measles symptoms, they should immediately isolate at home and call a healthcare provider. Household members who are not immune to measles should also stay home during this period and consult with public health. If medical care is required, call ahead to a healthcare facility before arriving in-person, so the facility can take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading to others.”
Public Health says it conducts thorough case management and contact tracing upon notification of probable or confirmed measles cases in Grey-Bruce. If Public Health cannot reach everyone who was exposed to measles during a contact-tracing investigation, it will notify the public of potential community exposure location(s).
Public Health says, “Vaccination is the best defence against measles, which is a highly contagious respiratory virus. One dose of a measles-containing vaccine is about 85% to 95% effective at preventing measles. With two doses, efficacy rises to nearly 100%.”
They have a measles webpage, available at the following link: Measles – Grey-Bruce. This webpage includes information on measles-containing vaccines, including when individuals should be vaccinated, along with a list of local measles exposure locations, and additional information on the measles virus, including symptoms and the virus’s infectious period.