Peel Public Health investigating confirmed case of measles

Peel Public Health (PPH) says it is investigating a confirmed case of measles in a person with a recent history of international travel.

The case was confirmed on Tuesday and PPH says the public may have been exposed to the virus on the following flights:

• December 4, Turkish Airlines, Flight TK707 – Kabul to Istanbul 
• December 4, Turkish Airlines, Flight TK17 – Istanbul to Toronto 
• December 4, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1, 6301 Silver Dart Drive, Mississauga, between approximately 6:45 PM to 10:30 PM.

PPH offers the following advice to people who think they may have been exposed:

• Check their immunization record to confirm they and their family members are up-to-date with their measles vaccinations (MMR or MMRV). Those who are unsure can check with their healthcare provider. Two doses are generally recommended for anyone born in or after 1970. In general, those born before 1970 are considered protected against measles.
• Even people who are up to date with the measles vaccine should watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days from their exposure.
• Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider, or if not available, Peel Public Health as soon as possible to discuss follow-up recommendations. Do not attend work or school. Those concerned about symptoms should call their healthcare provider before going to see them to inform them they may have been in contact with someone who has measles.

Measles symptoms usually include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

It’s usually most serious in infants under one year of age, unimmunized pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems.

Last May, Public Health Ontario (PHO) confirmed the death of a child under the age of five from the illness.

That was the first measles death in the province since 1989, which is as far back as the data goes in the public health database.