By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
If you’ve been exposed to measles and are part of a vulnerable sector of the population, contact public health immediately.
That’s the advice of Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, Chatham-Kent’s acting medical officer of health. The physician spoke to reporters Friday after the news broke that patients at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s emergency department may have come into close contact with as case of the highly infectious disease.
“Time is of the essence,” Nesathurai explained. “It’s not something I would defer.”
According to a media release from Chatham-Kent Public Health, two potential windows of exposure occurred. The first took place Jan. 26 from 9 p.m. to Jan. 27 at 2:30 a.m. The second occurred Jan. 29 from 10 p.m. to Jan. 30 at 5:30 a.m.
Nesathurai said those most at risk are babies under one year of age, pregnant women, people who are unvaccinated and the immunocompromised.
If infected, Nesathurai said symptoms will likely present in 10 to 12 days. Patients will generally feel unwell, with a runny nose and possible respiratory symptoms. This is usually followed by a blotchy red rash that will normally resolve itself.
However, in rare cases, brain swelling and even death can occur.
CKHA president and CEO Adam Topp, who joined Nesathurai to speak to media, said no details about the case will be released in order to protect patient privacy.
However, Topp did say that patients with measles “typically” don’t know they have the illness when they visit the emergency department.
Chatham-Kent’s last confirmed measles exposure occurred in 2014, Nesathurai added, pointing out that many young doctors and health-care workers have never observed a case.
If measles are suspected, some patients may be eligible for preventative treatment, Nesathurai stated, which is why patients need to call public health right away. They also need to notify their health-care provider or the hospital if they visit so agencies can take precautionary measures.
According to public health, people who may have been exposed are advised to watch for symptoms for at least 21 days, even if they’re up-to-date on their vaccinations. If unvaccinated, those who were exposed at the ER are considered to be a “susceptible” exposure.
Those individuals should avoid contact with vulnerable populations including pregnant women and children for the three-week period.
Nesathurai stressed that the best defense against measles is vaccination. Infants typically get their first shot at age one and another between four and six years of age.
“The benefits are so much greater than the risk,” the doctor said, adding it not only protects the individual, it protects other people.
“When you are vaccinated, you’re not only helping yourself, you’re helping someone across town. Some diseases can’t be prevented, but measles is not one of them ”
CKPH data indicates that 95 per cent of youth age 17 years and above have been immunized against measles.
For more information about measles, call 519-352-7270 ext. 5902.