The Sudbury health unit has issued a social media notice asking people to be aware of the possibility of measles.
This follows several media reports from Toronto Public Health on Friday that revealed the first reported case of measles in 2024 in that city was a baby that was hospitalized. Another case was reported last Tuesday in nearby Peel Public Health of a child with measles, who had recently been exposed to international travel.
The notice by Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) asked if anyone had "cold-like symptoms and an unexplainable rash?"
The PHSD notice advised members of the public who are concerned to call on their primary health care provider to be assessed and to check on their personal immunization status.
The PHSD notice also advised local residents to "learn more" about vaccine preventable diseases by visiting the public health website that has specific information on measles.
The health unit webpage said the following:
"Measles is extremely contagious. Are your protected from getting infected?
"Before the measles vaccine was a part of routine childhood immunizations, almost all children got measles. Measles is much less common since vaccination has been required," said the website.
It also outlined the symptoms of measles:
-High fever.
-Cough and runny nose,
-Watery, red, and irritated eyes,
-Sensitivity to light,
-Small, white spots in the mouth, and
-A red, blotchy rash that starts on the head and face, then spreads to the rest of the body.
