Measles Screening
As communities in southern Ontario continue to report an increase in measles activity, South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC) is working to keep our patients safe.
We encourage all patients and visitors to wear a mask while in the hospital.
Visitors who are ill or have been exposed to measles are not to enter the hospital. If you have been exposed to measles, or are concerned you may have measles, please reach out to Grey Bruce Public Health who will provide you further direction.
Screening:
The following measles screening questions are in effect at South Bruce Grey Health Centre:
- Within the past 21 days, have you had any known exposure to measles, or been told by Public Health to isolate or get tested for measles?
- Do you have fever AND rash
If you answer yes to either of the above questions and are planning to visit the hospital, please call the hospital at 519-370-2400, ext. 0. Outpatients should notify the department they are to visit and arrange to rebook the appointments.
Signage is located at entrance points to each of our hospital sites, with instructions for non-emergent patients to return to their vehicle and call Registration at 519-370-2400 ext. 0, who will provide you instructions. If you require emergent care and are not able to phone before coming to the hospital, please wash your hands, put on a mask, and proceed directly to Registration and notify them.
If you are a visitor and answer yes to either of the above questions, do not enter.
General Measles Information:
What is Measles?
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death.
Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children.
Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.
Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus.
Before the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year.
Who is at Risk?
Any non-immune person can become infected. Unvaccinated young children and pregnant persons, as well as severely immunocompromised persons are at highest risk of severe measles complications. Although relatively rare, there have been cases of measles in full vaccinated individuals as well, this may be due to vaccine potency and/or immunity waning.
How is measles spread?
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, spread by contact with infected nasal or throat secretions (coughing or sneezing) or breathing the air that was breathed by someone with measles. The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. For this reason, it is very infectious, and one person infected by measles can infect nine out of 10 of their unvaccinated close contacts. It can be transmitted by an infected person from four days prior to the onset of the rash to four days after the rash erupts.
Is there treatment for Measles?
There is no specific treatment for measles. Care should focus on relieving symptoms, making the person comfortable and preventing complications.
Drinking enough water and treatments for dehydration can replace fluids lost to diarrhea or vomiting.
Where can I get vaccinated?
Vaccination is the best defense against measles. Please reach out to your primary healthcare provider, or Grey Bruce Public Health for vaccinations.