Regional medical officer of health Dr. Yves Leger (91.9 The Bend Photo)
New Brunswick health officials believe there’s a low risk to the public in connection with an individual who had the measles while visiting Greater Moncton.
Dr. Yves Leger says a Quebec man was here on business last month and visited three places (see below) but he didn’t have symptoms until the case was confirmed in Montreal.
Dr. Leger says it’s important to ensure your measles vaccinations are up to date.
“Measles is one of the most contagious infections that we know. It’s a disease that spreads very, very easily and can stay in the air for up to two hours after someone leaves the room,” he says.
Measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, red eyes, mild cough, and a rash which typically starts on the head and spreads throughout the body.
If you think you have the measles, do not visit a doctor or an emergency room, but isolate yourself at home and call 811 to learn the next steps to take.
The latest anyone could develop symptoms is October 11th.
Dr. Leger says health care providers including the health authorities, physicians, Moncton’s two emergency rooms along with the 811 service have been notified.
Public health says individuals were potentially exposed to the measles if they:
- were at the hotel between 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 19 and 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 20;
- were at the Greater Moncton Airport, departures area, on Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; or
- were on Air Canada Flight #8903, Moncton to Montreal on Sept. 20, which departed at 11:15 a.m.
