Residents warned of potential exposure to measles

Area residents are being warned they may have been exposed to measles after a case was confirmed in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit issued the warning after an individual became ill with measles after travelling outside of the country. There is concern area residents may have been exposed to the illness in a number of Lindsay locations between March 28 to April 8, before the person knew they were ill.

The infected person visited the following locations and anyone who was in the same places during the times indicated may have been exposed:

• Cambridge Mall, 18 Cambridge St. S. Lindsay, ON

March 28, 2018 from 10am – 5pm, March 30, 2018 from 9am – 4pm, March 31, 2018 from 10am-5pm, April 2, 2018 from 10am-5pm, April 3, 2018 from 11am-5pm

• Reid’s Valu-Mart, 42 Russell St. W. Lindsay, ON

March 31, 2018 from 2pm – 4:10pm

• Doctor’s office, Lindsay Professional Building, 65 Angeline St. N, Lindsay, ON

April 3, 2018 from 9am – 12pm, April 4, 2018 from 8:45am – 11:30am, April 5, 2018 from 8:45am – 12pm, April 6 8:45am-11:15am.

• Life Labs, 86 Angeline St. S, Lindsay, ON

April 3, 2018 from 10am-1pm, April 4, 2018 from 8am – 10:45am, April 5, 2018 from 8am – 10:45am, April 6, 2018 from 8am – 10:45am

• Tim Horton’s located at Whitney Town Centre, Lindsay, ON

April 4, 2018 from 8:30am – 11am

• Royal Gardens Food Mart View Lake, 4793 Regional 57 Rd.

March 30, 2018 from 2:30pm-4:35pm.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air. The measles virus can live for up to two hours in the air where an infected person has coughed or sneezed. Symptoms include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes, and white spots in the mouth. Symptoms can appear approximately 10 to 14 days after exposure, and in some cases up to 21 days after exposure.

If anyone visited any of the above locations during the time identified, they are asked to check their immunization records and keep a close eye on their health for the next 21 days.

Anyone who develops symptoms should call their health care provider immediately and tell them they have been exposed to measles. Do not go to the doctor or a hospital without telling them before that you have been exposed to measles.

People can still become ill with measles if they have been immunized, but it may be a milder form. Infants under one year of age, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems can suffer severe complications.

To learn more about measles, residents can visit www.hkpr.on.ca or call the Health Unit toll-free at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1007.