‘When you get measles, you can spread it to 18 people’: Eastern Ontario doctor

What should you be on the lookout for and what can you do if you get sick? We've paged Dr. Paul to explain.

Measles cases in Ontario have risen to over 1,000 and the CEO of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit explains how to protect yourself and what to do in case you get infected with the highly contagious virus.

Though measles starts as a cold, it’s a quite serious virus, with a seven per cent chance to be admitted to hospital if infected, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis told CTV Morning Live Wednesday.

He notes the severity of the situation in Ontario, as 70 children have been admitted to hospital.

“It’s a virus that spreads from person to person,” Dr. Roumeliotis said. “Unlike a cold, it gives you red eyes, fever and then a rash develops.”

He adds that the rash starts in the face then spreads into the rest of the body. Severe complications can develop withing a week, Roumeliotis says.

“The problem with measles is that it can get into the blood. It could actually cause lung infection, and then brain infection and even death,” he added. “So, that’s the difference between a regular rash, regular virus and the measles virus.”

The deadly virus can be prevented by vaccines, Roumeliotis says, pointing out the availability of vaccines in Canada. Twenty years ago, measles was eradicated thanks to vaccines, Roumelioitis says.

If your child is if fully vaccinated, you don’t have to be worried about measles, Roumeliotis says.

“The thing that parents should know is that if your child is vaccinated, two doses, one at 12 months, and one at five years of age, they’re protected 98-99 per cent,” he explained.

Most people who were born before 1970 have had measles, which means they have natural immunity, he notes.

Measles is highly contagious, he says.

“If you get a cold, or you get the flu, you can spread it to a couple of people maximum,” Roumeliotis says. “When you get the measles, you can spread it to 18 people.”

He says there are some areas with lower rates of vaccinations in the province.

“And that’s why you’re seeing those numbers rise,” he said.

The good news is, if most of the population is vaccinated, the entire community would be protected, Roumeliotis says.

Is it difficult to diagnose a measles case?

He says it is difficult to diagnose the virus infection by just looking at the infected individual. The tests include blood work and urine test.

Some of the signs include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, kolpik spot and red rash appearing three to seven days after the initial symptoms start.

“We have to look at an index of suspicion, so when we look at a child, or a person come in, the first thing that we ask is: ‘Have you been vaccinated?’ If you’re vaccinated, you’re a 100 per cent protected,” Roumeliotis said.

Public Health Ontario (PHO) says the total number of cases is 1,020, noting that over one week alone, it grew by 95 cases.

The cases are associated with an outbreak linked to travel from New Brunswick. Fifteen public health units in the province are affected. There are no confirmed cases of measles in Ottawa.

“The sharp increase in the number of outbreak cases and the geographic spread in recent weeks is due to continued exposures and transmission among individuals who have not been immunized,” PHO says on its website.

On Friday, the Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) confirmed its first local measles case. It says on its website the measles case was confirmed in an unvaccinated resident who travelled within Ontario, noting that this adult individual is currently isolating and following the necessary public health measures.

Here’s what to do if you develop symptoms:

• Stay home and do not attend work or school.
• Call your health-care provider. If you need to go to a clinic or other health-care setting for care, it is important to contact them ahead of time to avoid inadvertently exposing others.
• You may also call SEHU’s Infectious and Communicable Diseases Program at 613-966- 5500, extension 349.

More information about measles is available here.