Four new cases of measles

There are now 10 confirmed cases of measles in Saskatchewan.

Nine are in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. Each case has been linked to the measles case of a young child returning from a trip to the Philippines in early January.

Each subsequent case’s initial contact with the virus can be tracked as well. There are other cases under investigation.

Nobody has been hospitalized due to the virus as of yet.

“Most have recovered; there are one or two with some straggling symptoms that are still there,” said Dr. Maurice Hennink, medical health officer for Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.

Measles is an airborne virus contracted through nasal and oral secretions. It can stay in the air for up to two hours.

None of the confirmed cases have been linked to any of the public locations given out so far.

“Due to the open space of these areas, it’s not that easy to pick up the measles virus, but it’s not impossible,” said Hennink.

New locations where people could have come in contact with the virus are:

Pur Indulgence Salon and Spa (#14-5875 Rochdale Blvd. — Feb 1 from 9: 30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Sobeys (Rochdale Boulevard location — Feb. 2 between 1:30 and 5 p.m.)

Fresh Coffee Shop (Hamilton Street — Feb. 3 from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)

Cornwall Shopping Mall (The Bay and Cleo — Feb. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Regina General Hospital (Inside front entrance — Feb. 4 between 8:30 and 11 a.m.)

“Parents of children in daycare situations don’t need to be concerned because we will have touched base with them if there was a daycare-related incident,” said Hennink.

Hennink said it’s difficult to predict if more cases will come up.

“I don’t think we should see, that given our high immunization coverage rates, especially in our children,” he said.

Symptoms include high fever, a cough, red eyes, runny nose, irritation of the eyes and development of a rash that starts at the face and then spreads to the body. The earliest a person can experience symptoms after being infected with the measles virus is a week, but can take as long as 18 days.

Unique cases may need isolation, said Hennink. Isolation periods are usually 21 days, he said.

If you do experience symptoms, Hennink said you should call your physician to make arrangements to be seen under controlled circumstances.