10 infants need protective medication after potential measles exposure, CPHO says
Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Office has now identified 10 infants who will require medication to protect them against measles, given that they are too young to have been vaccinated.
On Thursday, the office confirmed two new, unrelated cases of measles on P.E.I., with the people involved having been in public places while contagious.
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said Friday that the infants who will need intravenous immunoglobulin, or intramuscular immunoglobulin in some of the cases, were identified overnight Thursday and early Friday. The immunoglobulin can prevent an infection or reduce the severity if one develops.
“We have 10 little babies that we’re going to be able to offer this immunoglobulin to over the next couple of days, as well as a couple of immunocompromised adults,” Morrison said Friday afternoon. “We may also identify more babies in the coming days, but we’re trying to start administering that product this afternoon.”
Public health officials on Prince Edward Island are mobilizing to get the word out about possible public exposure sites to two new measles cases. Babies under a year of age and people who are immunocompromised or pregnant are considered high risk.
While most people on P.E.I. are protected from measles because of their age or vaccination status, Morrison said children under one year old are at high risk because they have not yet received the measles vaccine.
It’s part of the province’s childhood vaccine program, administered at 12 months and again at 18 months.
Health officials have identified several public exposure sites, including R&A (RaceTrac) service station, Charlottetown Bible Chapel, HomeSense, Morell Co-op, Adams Chiropractic, Princess Auto, Ultramar Gas Station, WestJet flights, and Charlottetown Airport. People who were at these locations during the specified times are urged to contact the Chief Public Health Office.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore eyes, and a red rash that begins on the head and spreads down to the trunk and limbs. Serious complications can occur, such as blindness, viral meningitis, or pneumonia.
The measles virus spreads through the air when a person who is infected breathes, coughs, sneezes, or talks. It may also spread through direct contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person.
If you or your family members develop symptoms described above from now until 21 days after being at one of the listed exposure sites on P.E.I., consult a healthcare provider as soon as possible and take necessary precautions to prevent spreading the disease to others.
The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is available at no cost through P.E.I.’s immunization program. It is important to follow the current vaccine recommendations provided by the Chief Public Health Office to protect yourself and your loved ones from measles.
