Back to SearchKINGSTON – KFL&A Public Health is investigating a second case of measles in an unimmunised adult from the Kingston area, linked to a case that occurred locally within the last three weeks. The fact that this second case never received measles vaccine in childhood is the key factor for acquiring this highly infectious disease. The possibility of other members of the public being exposed to or acquiring measles after exposure is very low.
Others who are not immunised or who are immunocompromised, who may have been exposed to these cases, may be at risk for measles. Specifically, these at-risk individuals include infants below the age of 12 months, unimmunized pregnant women, or immune compromised individuals may be at risk. The more recent case visited a local restaurant, Carmelinda’s Restaurant at 2799 Princess Street, on April 16, 2017 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Any at-risk people who visited this restaurant during that time period may have been exposed to measles. We ask these individuals to call the Communicable Disease Team at KFL&A Public Health at 613-549-1232 for advice and guidance.
Measles is a serious infection that causes fever, cough, runny nose, inflammation of the eyes, and an itchy rash that covers most of the body. Complications include pneumonia, middle ear infections, and inflammation of the brain that can cause life-long disability. Before the advent of a vaccine for measles, most children had this disease. The vaccine has made this illness and its serious complications a rarity in Canada.
Children over the age of one, adolescents, health care workers, and students living in dormitories all should have had two doses of measles vaccine for adequate protection. Older adults should have a minimum of one dose, and those born before 1970 are assumed to be protected because of the high level of measles in Canada before that date. Persons who are not up-to-date are asked to contact their family physicians to receive this vaccine.
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