Prairie North Health Region and the Ministry of Health are investigating a case of measles in an unimmunized child under age five in the region, and are taking steps to notify members of the public who may have been exposed.
Measles is a highly infectious and potentially serious disease that is easily transmitted through the air.
Symptoms include high fever, cough and runny nose, followed by a rash. The rash often starts on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.
Members of the public who visited the following Lloydminster establishments on Monday, April 21 during the times listed may have been exposed to the measles virus and should be aware of the symptoms of measles:
Boston Pizza (6303 - 44th St., Lloydminster) 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Mark's Work Wearhouse (4213 - 70th Ave., Lloydminster) 1 - 3:30 p.m.
Walmart (Highway 16 and 70th Avenue, Lloydminster) 2 - 5 p.m.
McDonalds Restaurant (south side, Lloydminster) 4 - 8 p.m.
The health region offers this advice for those who develop symptoms of measles:
Please call your primary health care provider's office, explain you were a contact of a confirmed measles case, detail your symptoms, and see what accommodations can be put in place prior to your visit to minimize contact with other patients.
Call HealthLine at 811 for general information.
If your symptoms are severe and you believe you should seek prompt medical attention at the nearest emergency department, call before you go to the ER so that precautions can be implemented to avoid the risk of transmission of the disease to others.
Dr. Brenda Cholin, PNHR Medical Health Officer, advises that public health officials are also identifying and contacting individuals who may have been exposed to the measles virus during the contagious period.
"These people are being given information about measles and what to do if they develop symptoms," Cholin states.
The earliest a person will experience symptoms is one week following exposure. If you were born before 1970, you are assumed to be immune from contracting this disease.
For information on measles symptoms, treatment and vaccination, the public can call HealthLine at 811 or visit HealthLine Online - Measles at https://www.healthwise.net/saskhealthlineonline/Content/StdDocument.aspx?DOCHWID=hw198187.
Information is also available at http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/red-measles. You may also call Prairie North Health Region's Public Health Services at 306-821-0641.
Information for People Who May Have Been
Exposed to Measles in a Public Facility
Individuals with measles who visit a public facility while infectious may pose a risk to the public.
Measles is highly contagious, and is spread through the air. The public advisory lists the facilities, as well as dates and times when exposures may have occurred. Due to the nature of this exposure setting, identifying individuals that may have been in contact with measles is not possible.
Individuals who have had two doses of measles?containing vaccine (commonly provided as measles mumps? rubella (MMR) vaccine), or who have had a lab?confirmed infection in the past are considered immune and not generally considered to be at risk for infection. Individuals born before 1970 are likely to have been exposed to measles in childhood, and are also generally considered to have a natural immunity to it.
Individuals born in 1970 or later, and who have not been immunized, are at higher risk of developing infection. Symptoms may develop as early as seven or as late as 21 days after the exposure. Early symptoms usually include:
High fever
Cough
Runny nose
Red eyes
A rash then develops after a day or two, and usually starts on the face then spreads over the rest of the body.
If you develop symptoms up to 21 days after being at a particular identified venue (on the specific dates and times), it is important to call ahead to your health care provider's office and inform them of your exposure. That way, arrangements can be made for you to be assessed in a way that reduces the chance of exposing other individuals to measles.
Measles is contagious before early symptoms develop, which is four to five days before a person develops a rash, and remains contagious until four days after the rash appears. If you have symptoms, it is very important that you avoid contact with others who are not immune until the fifth day after the rash appears (you are no longer considered contagious after that time). If you require further medical attention, it is important call ahead to your health care provider as mentioned above.
We appreciate your assistance in preventing the possible spread of infection. Please feel free to call your local public health office or the Health Line at 811 as needed.
