(UPDATE Fri. 11 am) The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit’s website says there are 11 confirmed cases of measles in the district, as of Friday, March 21.
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The number of measles cases in the North Bay Parry Sound District has increased to five as of March 19.
That from the Health Unit which says all of the newly infected individuals are close contacts of the original case announced earlier this month and are not fully vaccinated against measles.
They are currently self-isolating.
“At this time, there is no evidence of the virus spreading throughout the region and no locations have been identified where the public could have been exposed,” says Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, Medical Officer of Health. “We continue to be in regular communication with the individuals and their close contacts to help keep our local risk level low, and we appreciate how closely public health isolation recommendations have been followed by these individuals.”
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air and can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Individuals can reduce their risk by avoiding travel to high-risk areas and getting up-to-date with their measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.
“Two doses are recommended for individuals born in or after 1970. Most individuals born before 1970 have immunity from exposure in their childhood,” says Dr. Zimbalatti.
For more information and to check your immunization record at myhealthunit.ca/measles.
