Potential child measles case in Burlington

Burlington has a probable case of measles.

If confirmed, it will be the second case that originated with a visiting Hamilton resident.

Dr. Monir Taha, Halton Region’s associate medical officer of health, said the potential new case is a child, likely exposed at Joseph Brant Hospital’s emergency de- partment three weeks ago when Halton’s first case was there.

As for others being exposed to the child’s measles, Taha says there was only a short window — the Saturday of Easter weekend, at the North Burlington Medical Centre from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Taha’s department is notifying all patients who were at the clinic the same time as the child.

“We don’t think it involved a lot of people.”

He also noted that the level of immunity “is quite high” in the Halton population.

“Ninety-two per cent of schoolchildren are up to date (with their vaccinations). There’s a reasonably high level of protection in children and in adults.”

Taha said this latest run of measles in the area started with a Hamilton resident, which led to another Hamilton case and then a Halton case, and now possibly this one.

Hamilton had three cases of adult measles as of April 1. The first was identified March 13 after the man returned from the Philippines.

Measles start with a cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, fever and, after about four days, a rash begins on the face and moves down the body. It spreads easily to those without immunity.