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Toronto Public Health investigating three confirmed cases of measles

March 30, 2017

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is investigating three lab-confirmed cases of measles. One of the individuals acquired measles in another country. The two other cases involve Toronto residents who were exposed to a person with measles who lives outside of the GTA. 

Members of the public may have been exposed to measles in a number of settings in Toronto during the period of March 19 to 30, including:

March 19

Emirates Airline flight EK517, departed Delhi, India at 4:12 p.m. and arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at 6:13 p.m.

March 20

Emirates Airline flight EK241, departed Dubai, United Arab Emirates at 9:55 a.m. and arrived in Toronto at 4:04 p.m.

March 21

Caledonian Bar, 865 College St.

March 22

• WestJet flight WS450, departed Abbottsford, B.C. at 5:49 a.m. and arrived in Calgary at 7:50 a.m.

• WestJet flight WS610, departed Calgary at 10:15 a.m. and arrived in Ottawa at 3:47 p.m.

• WestJet flight WS369, departed Ottawa at 4:40 p.m. and arrived in Toronto at 5:42 p.m.

March 23

WestJet flight WS590, departed Toronto at 4:27 p.m. and arrived in Montreal at 5:41 p.m.

March 24

• WestJet flight WS581, departed Montreal at 7:55 a.m. and arrived in Toronto at 9:13 a.m.

• WestJet flight WS2668, departed Toronto at 10:16 a.m. and arrived in Turks and Caicos Islands at 1:56 p.m.

• WestJet flight WS2669, departed Turks and Caicos Islands at 2:59 p.m. and arrived in Toronto at 7:15 p.m.

TPH is also working with the Toronto District School Board regarding a confirmed case of the measles in an individual at Huron Street Junior Public School. All parents have received notification about this exposure and vaccine clinics are being held at the school.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily to those who are not immune or are vulnerable. Anyone who has not had two doses of a measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV) or who has not had measles in the past is at risk of infection. Infants under one year of age, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems can get very ill with measles.

While TPH believes that the risk of acquiring measles is low, TPH recommends the following:

• Check immunization records to make sure all family members are up to date with the measles vaccination (MMR or MMRV). Contact your health care provider if needed. (Those born before 1970 are considered protected against measles.) • Make sure immunizations are up to date before travelling.

• Monitor for symptoms of measles, including high fever, cold-like symptoms such as cough or runny nose, sore eyes or sensitivity to light and a red rash lasting four to seven days.

• Anyone experiencing symptoms as described above should contact their health care provider as soon as possible and not attend work or school.

More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/health

This release is also available on the City of Toronto website at http://ow.ly/RjlH30apWAw.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. In 2017, Toronto will honour Canada's 150th birthday with "TO Canada with Love," a year-long program of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorontoComms and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto.

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Media contact: Lenore Bromley, Toronto Public Health, 416-338-7974, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.