Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

kfla Public Health Logo

Contact Us
NewsContact UsLogin
FR EN
  • Health Topics
    • Climate change
    • Dental health
    • Health hazards
    • Food and healthy eating
    • Immunizations and vaccines
    • Infections and infectious diseases
    • Injury prevention and safety
    • Mental well-being
    • Parenting
    • Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep
    • Pregnancy
    • Safe water
    • Sexual health
    • Substance use health
    • Violence
  • Organizations and Professionals
    • Business owners, operators and vendors
    • Climate Change FAQ
    • Early childhood educators
    • Elementary and secondary school educators
    • Health care providers
    • Long-term care and retirement homes
  • Clinics and Classes
    • Dental hygiene clinics
    • Immunization clinics
    • Infant feeding clinics
    • Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
    • Food For You, Food For Two classes
    • Low-cost rabies clinic
    • Prenatal and family home visiting program
    • Prenatal classes
    • Sexual health clinics
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Annual reports
    • Board of Health
    • Employment and volunteering
    • Policies
    • Strategic plan
  • I Want To:

Measles

HomeHealth TopicsInfections and infectious diseasesMeasles
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
Measles

To view current locations where measles exposures may have occurred please visit our measles exposure page.

Measles exposure survey

If you think you have been exposed to measles, please complete this confidential survey. The information you provide is confidential and protected by law. We follow strict rules to keep your information safe. This is a self-assessment tool only. The information you enter will not be reviewed, reported or analyzed by Public Health.

Complete survey


FAQ

What if you are exposed to measles?

If you were at any of the locations during the exposure times:

  • Check vaccination records to ensure protection from measles.
    • Immunity requires two doses of a measles vaccine or proof of immunity through a laboratory test. If you are unsure of your vaccination status:
    • Check your record (please note that public health may not have records for anyone born in 1985 or earlier):
      • KFL&A
    • Call your health-care provider
    • Call SEHU’s Kingston office at 613-549-1232.
    • Most individuals born before 1970 are generally presumed to have acquired immunity due to infection in their childhood, as high levels of measles were circulating before 1970.
  • If you are not vaccinated or have had only one dose of measles vaccine you should monitor for symptoms, isolate at home for 21 days following your exposure and seek vaccination through SEHU or primary care clinics.
    • Call before visiting a health-care setting and notify them of your recent measles exposure. This helps protect others and allows health-care providers to prepare for your visit.
    • Monitor for symptoms until 21 DAYS following your exposure date (even if you are vaccinated). Symptoms of measles start seven to 21 days after exposure and may include:
      • high fever, cough, runny nose
      • red, watery eyes (pink eye or conjunctivitis)
      • red blotchy rash
  • If you develop symptoms, stay home and do not go to work, school, daycare and public settings. Call your health-care provider before visiting to let them know you may have measles and need special precautions. You may also call SEHU’s Kingston office at 613 549-1232. 
  • Please contact SEHU immediately if you fall into any of the following categories:
    • Were with an infant under 12 months of age during exposure.
    • Are pregnant and unvaccinated or unsure of your immunity to measles.
    • Are immunocompromised.

You may be eligible for preventive treatment. In Kingston call 613 549-1232. 

What if you develop symptoms?

  • Stay home. Don't allow others to visit for at least four days after the rash starts.
  • Call KFL&A Public Health.
  • Contact your health care provider by phone. If you need to visit a health care provider, call before you arrive. Tell the health care provider about your measles symptoms so other patients can be protected. Put on a mask before you enter. 
  • If your health care provider suspects you have measles, they should notify KFL&A Public Health.

There is no treatment for measles. Supportive measures can help to relieve symptoms.

How is measles spread? 

Measles is a virus that spreads easily through the air. It is passed in tiny droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. It can survive in the air for up to two hours. 

A person with measles can spread the infection to others four days before to four days after the rash starts. 

What is measles

Measles is a very contagious viral infection that can cause serious disease. Over 90 per cent of people who are not immune will become infected if they are exposed to the virus.

Measles can result in complications including ear infections, pneumonia, deafness, and brain damage. Rarely, death can occur.

Children less than five years of age, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of complications from measles. 

Symptoms of measles

The first symptoms of measles are:

  • fever, runny nose, and cough
  • eyes that are red, runny, and sensitive to light

Four days later, a red, blotchy rash appears. The rash begins on the face, spreads over the body and then down the arms and legs. 

Symptoms usually appear around 10 days after a person has been exposed to the virus but can start anywhere from seven to 21 days. The rash usually develops 14 days after exposure. 

Prevention

The best protection against measles is vaccination with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, which are almost 100 per cent effective at preventing infection. 

Book a measles vaccine appointment

  • Two doses of measles vaccine are given to children  after their first birthday. Measles vaccine is given in combination with other vaccines. 
    • The first dose is MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, given at 12 months of age.
    • The second dose is MMVR (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccine, given between four to six years of age, preferably before school entry.
  • Some adults may have received only one dose of measles vaccine. A second dose of MMR vaccine is recommended for anyone born in 1970 or later. 
  • Workers in healthcare, childcare, school, or post-secondary and military settings are strongly encouraged to have two doses of measles-containing vaccine or evidence of immunity.

Measles vaccine should not be given to pregnant women. Individuals with weakened immune systems are recommended to consult their health care provider as they may not be able to receive measles-containing vaccines.  

Important immunization information for travellers

Anyone who is not fully vaccinated against measles is at risk of being infected when travelling outside of Canada. To be fully vaccinated:

  • Adults 18 years of age and older who have previously received one dose of MMR should receive a second dose if they are health care workers, post-secondary students, planning to travel to areas with increased measles transmission or based on health care provider's clinical judgement. 
  • Children four years of age and older should have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine.
  • Children are not routinely provided a second measles-containing vaccine until after their fourth birthday. However, if travelling to a high-risk area, those who have received one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and are 13 months to four years of age, could receive a second dose of measles-containing vaccine earlier than when it is is routinely provided. A health care provider can advise on the best approach for your child.
  • Infants are not routinely immunized for measles until after their first birthday. However, if travelling to a high-risk area, infants six to 12 months of age should receive a dose of measles-containing vaccine. Two additional doses of measles-containing vaccine are still required, one on or after the first birthday and the second between four to six years of age. A health care provider can advise on the best approach for your child. 

If needed, measles vaccination should be given at least two weeks before travelling. However, there are still benefits if given less than two weeks before departure. 

Important information for children in elementary and secondary school with vaccine exemptions

If there is a case of measles at school, children with valid exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) will be excluded from school if they do not have two valid doses of measles-containing vaccine (e.g., MMR or MMRV) past 12 months of age.

Children may return to school when they meet one of the following criteria: 

  • 21 days have passed since their last exposure to measles and there are no further cases in the school
  • a measles outbreak is declared over
  • there is proof of lab confirmed immunity
  • they have received their second dose of measles-containing vaccine

If you have questions and would like to speak to a member of our immunization team, call 613-549-1232, ext. 1451. 

Subscribe to page updates
Health Topics
  • Infections and infectious diseases
    Toggle Section Infections and infectious diseases Menu
    • Avian influenza (bird flu)
    • COVID-19
    • Common childhood illnesses
    • Infection prevention and control lapses
    • Influenza
    • Invasive Meningococcal Disease
    • Lyme and tickborne diseases
    • Measles
      Toggle Section Measles Menu
      • Measles exposures
    • Mpox (monkeypox) virus
    • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
    • Preventing the spread of respiratory infections
    • Rabies
    • Respiratory illness surveillance in KFL&A
    • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
    • Tuberculosis
    • Vomiting and diarrhea (gastroenteritis)
    • West Nile Virus
  • View full Health Topics menu
    Toggle Section
    • Climate change
      Toggle Section Climate change Menu
      • Air quality
      • Extreme temperatures
      • Extreme weather and natural hazards
      • Food and water-borne illness
      • Ultraviolet radiation
      • Vector-borne disease
    • Dental health
      Toggle Section Dental health Menu
      • Dental care by age
      • Dental hygiene clinics
      • Tooth decay is increasing
      • Water fluoridation
    • Health hazards
      Toggle Section Health hazards Menu
      • Preparing for emergencies
      • Electromagnetic Fields
      • Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillars
      • Lead
      • Radon
      • Sun and UV safety
    • Food and healthy eating
      Toggle Section Food and healthy eating Menu
      • Choose water
      • Feeding your baby
      • Food and nutrition services
      • Food safety
      • Food skills
      • Healthy eating in the workplace
      • Healthy food choices by age
      • Introducing solid foods
      • Safe food handler training
      • Sport and recreational leagues
      • The cost of eating healthy
    • Immunizations and vaccines
      Toggle Section Immunizations and vaccines Menu
      • COVID-19
      • Grade 7 school-based immunizations
      • Immunization records and reporting
      • Immunization schedule by age
      • Influenza
      • Invasive Meningococcal Disease
      • Measles
      • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
      • Tips before getting vaccinated
    • Injury prevention and safety
      Toggle Section Injury prevention and safety Menu
      • On and off-road safety
      • Preventing a fall
      • Sun and UV safety
      • Concussions
    • Mental well-being
      Toggle Section Mental well-being Menu
      • Children and youth mental health
      • Eating disorders and disordered eating
      • Improving your mental health
      • Mental health services
      • Pregnancy and postpartum mental health
    • Parenting
      Toggle Section Parenting Menu
      • Babies and toddlers
      • School aged children
      • Parenting programs and services
    • Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep
      Toggle Section Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep Menu
      • Physical activity
        Toggle Section Physical activity Menu
        • Move daily, live fully
        • Physical activity for babies and toddlers
        • Physical activity for school aged children
        • Physical activity for adults
        • Active transportation
        • Walking to Wellness
      • Sedentary behaviour
      • Sleep
        Toggle Section Sleep Menu
        • Sleep for babies and toddlers
        • Sleep for school aged children
        • Sleep for adults
    • Pregnancy
      Toggle Section Pregnancy Menu
      • Planning for a healthy pregnancy
      • Pregnancy and infant loss
      • Your health after pregnancy
    • Safe water
      Toggle Section Safe water Menu
      • Algae blooms
      • Beach water listings
      • Drinking water
        Toggle Section Drinking water Menu
        • Drinking water advisories
        • Municipal water
        • Private well water
        • Small drinking water systems
      • Water fluoridation
    • Sexual health
      Toggle Section Sexual health Menu
      • Condoms and safer sex supplies
      • Contraception
      • Mandatory Blood Testing Act
      • Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections
      • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP)
    • Substance use health
      Toggle Section Substance use health Menu
      • Alcohol
      • Cannabis
      • Harm reduction
        Toggle Section Harm reduction Menu
        • Harm reduction supplies
        • Naloxone
        • Needle safety
        • Public disclosure of CTS inspection results
      • Tobacco
      • Vaping
    • Violence

Contact Us

kfla Public Health footer logo

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health works together with our communities to promote and protect the public's health. Our commitment is to provide public health programs and services of the highest quality.

  • View our Facebook Page
  • View our Twitter Page
  • View our Instagram Page
  • View our YouTube Page
  • View our LinkedIn Page
  • Health Topics
  • Organizations and Professionals
  • Clinics and Classes
  • About Us

Links:

  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Feedback
  • Ontario 211
  • Privacy and records
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of reference
  • Viral respiratory mapper
Scroll to top of page

© 2023 KFL&A Public Health

By GHD Digital

I Want To:

Report

  • Animal bite or scratch
  • Childcare discharges
  • Cold chain incident
  • Food-borne illness
  • Immunizations
  • Mandatory blood testing

Apply or register

  • Clinics and classes
  • Employment and volunteering
  • Open a food premise
  • Personal service settings
  • Parenting emails
  • Special events for organizers and vendors

Access

  • Dental programs
  • Inspection results and enforcement actions
  • Beach water listings
  • Well water testing
  • COVID-19 surveillance in KFL&A

Request

  • Condoms and safer sex supplies
  • Harm reduction supplies
  • Immunizations records
  • Personal health or general record
  • Property record request
  • Sexual health (STI) record
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.