Grand Erie Public Health confirms adult measles case in Haldimand-Norfolk

Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) says they received confirmation of measles in an adult in the Haldimand-Norfolk area.

GEPH says the person is currently recovering at home. They also say the source of their infection is unknown at this time.

GEPH is the merged health units of Haldimand-Norfolk’s Health Unit and the Brant County Health Unit.

The unit is currently investigating and following leads to determine who may have been exposed to the measles virus.

Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by an airborne virus that can be spread by breathing in air that contains the virus.

According to the unit, more than 90 per cent of people exposed at home to a child with measles will also catch it.

The virus can live in the air for up to two hours after a person has coughed or sneezed. It can also be spread by direct contact with the nose or throat droplets of an infected person.

READ MORE: Measles cases up in Ont.; 37 linked to an exposure in N.B.

A report released Friday afternoon says the unit is investigating three locations within the region during specific times, that people may have been exposed.

• Courtland Old Colony Church on Dec. 29, from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Delhi Community Health Centre Walk-in Clinic on Jan. 4, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Norfolk General Hospital – Emergency Department on Jan. 5, 2024, between the hours of 3:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

The health unit believes anyone who may have been exposed to the virus should check their immunization record to confirm they and their family members are up to date with their measles vaccinations.

Residents should be aware of the symptoms of measles even if their vaccine records are up to date.

Symptoms of measles include: a red rash, fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and/or fatigue.

A person with measles is contagious from four days before, to four days after a rash appears. Symptoms can start around 10 days after exposure, but can appear anywhere from seven to 21 days after exposure – lasting for one to two weeks.

READ MORE: University of Guelph sees positive norovirus test in 190 students