Measles Québec Bound? Outbreak and Information on the Virus

In the Lanaudière region of Québec in January , 8 members of a non vaccinated family were suspected of having contracted the Measles. One member had travelled to California and was reported to have been potentially in a 'contagious' state on January 9th,2015 while journeying throught the Montreal Airport (YUL).

Public Health have contacted possible contacts of the traveller. Recently, 8 other cases have been reported in Ontario.

According to PHAC, there had been a higher than usual number of cases of measles in Canada in 2014.

Since January 1 to January 30, 2015, 102 people from 14 states have been reported to have contracted measles in the USA.

Most of these cases in the US were suspected to be part of an outbreak reportedly linked to a amusement park in California.The United States actually experienced a record number of measles cases during 2014, with 644 cases from 27 states reported, according to the CDC.In 2014 the Philippines experienced a large ongoing measles outbreak, with 57,564 suspected cases of measles, including 21,403 confirmed cases, and 110 Measles deaths.

Here are a few facts about the Virus.

What is Measles? (Also known as Rubeola or Red Measles)

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through the air by droplets released when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Less commonly, the virus spreads through contact with articles freshly soiled with nasal and throat secretions.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes (conjunctivitis) and red spots all over the body.

Complications are more frequent in infants, adults, pregnant women and immune-compromised persons. Measles can sometimes cause dangerous problems, such as brain swelling (encephalitis) leading to seizures, hearing loss,blindness,pneumonia or even death.

Since there is no defintive cure, prevention is key.

Measles virus can live for up to two hours on a surface or in an airspace where the infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune could also become infected.Infected indviduals can habitually spread measles on average from four days before to four days after the rash appears.

How is it diagnosed?

Measles is diagnosed based on your symptoms and possible exposure to the virus (for example, if there has been a recent outbreak in your community).

Physicians may confirm the measles virus with a blood test or a lab test of your urine or a nasopharyngeal swab to detect the virus if taken at an appropriate time during the illness.

There is no specific treatment for measles since it is caused by a virus. But most people fully recover within 1 to 3 weeks.

Is isolation necessary?

Yes Indeed! If you have measles, you should be isolated – meaning stay at home – at least until 4 days after the rash appeared. This will help limit the spread of the virus.

What about the Vaccine?

The measles vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent measles.

Prophylactic use of immunoglobulin (Ig) has also been shown to be effective in modifying or preventing disease. Measles (rubeola) is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths in children worldwide.

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sources-ref:

gc.ca PHAC

cdc.gov

DSPmontreal

InfDis.mtl