2 cases of measles confirmed on Prince Edward Island, in adults who travelled within Canada

Stephen Brun · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 11, 2025 12:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

Health officials successful Prince Edward Island person confirmed 2 cases of measles, the province's archetypal reported cases since 2013.

In a quality release, P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Office said the two adults who tested affirmative had travelled unneurotic to an country successful Canada wherever outbreaks continue.

Neither of the radical had been immunized against the virus, and some person since recovered, the CPHO said.

Public wellness nursing is providing contacts of the 2 radical with vaccinations as needed, and contact-tracing is underway. No nationalist exposures person been identified astatine this time.

Symptoms of measles see fever, cough, sore eyes and a reddish rash that begins connected the caput and spreads down to the trunk and limbs. Serious complications tin occur, specified arsenic blindness, viral meningitis oregon pneumonia — oregon adjacent death, arsenic was the lawsuit precocious for 2 unvaccinated children successful Texas.

The measles microorganism spreads done the aerial erstwhile a idiosyncratic who is infected breathes, coughs, sneezes oregon talks. It whitethorn besides dispersed done nonstop interaction with droplets from the chemoreceptor and pharynx of a idiosyncratic who is infected, according to the CPHO's quality release.

The measles microorganism tin enactment successful the aerial oregon connected surfaces for up to two hours aft a idiosyncratic who is infected has near the space. Someone with measles is contagious for four days before the rash is noticeable, and for up to 4 days aft the rash occurs.

Anyone who is not vaccinated and is considered a adjacent interaction of idiosyncratic with measles volition request to isolate for 21 days.

"We are moving diligently to forestall further dispersed of measles wrong our community," said Dr. Heather Morrison, the province's main nationalist wellness officer.

"Vaccination is the astir effectual method of extortion against measles. We promote each Islanders to reappraisal their immunization records and guarantee they are up to day with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is disposable astatine nary outgo done the provincial immunization program."

People born earlier 1970 oregon who person had 2 doses of measles vaccine are considered immune.

WATCH | Canada reports grounds measles cases driven by Ontario outbreak:

The CPHO's existent recommendations for vaccination:

• Adults calved earlier 1970 are considered to person acquired earthy immunity and bash not necessitate the vaccine. Anyone travelling extracurricular of Canada should person 1 dose of measles vaccine.
• Adults calved successful oregon aft 1970 who person neither had measles, nor person received 2 doses of vaccine, should person 2 doses.
• Regardless of age, students entering post-secondary education, health-care workers and subject unit should person two doses if they person nary grounds of having had measles and no documentation of having received two doses of the vaccine.

Anyone surviving successful P.E.I. who is not up to day with the measles vaccines is eligible to person it escaped of charge. Islanders should telephone the nearest nationalist wellness nursing office and talk with a caregiver to find retired if vaccinations are up to date.

Those experiencing symptoms of measles should telephone 811 oregon interaction their superior attraction supplier earlier visiting immoderate health-care installation for treatment, to forestall spreading the microorganism to others.