Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton Public Health officials expect more measles cases here during the province-wide outbreak.

Two unrelated cases have been confirmed so far, according to Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Karalyn Dueck.

Friday, Lambton Public Health announced its first case of measles as the province deals with a major outbreak of the virus which was once virtually eradicated in Ontario. Sunday, officials said another person had tested positive for measles.

Southern Ontario is the middle of a measles outbreak. Public Health Ontario reported 440 cases across the province from Jan. 1 to March 19.

“The sharp increase in the number of outbreak cases and the geographic spread in recent weeks is due to continued exposures and transmission among individuals who have not been immunized,” PHO said in a news release.

The Ontario outbreaks began in Norfolk County and have rapidly increased across the province with about 120 more cases in the last week. Most of the measles cases have been in the Norfolk and Oxford county area. Nearby Chatham-Kent has had 20 this year.

About 75 per cent of the cases were in children. PHO says 96 percent of those children were not vaccinated.

In Lambton, public health is not releasing the ages of those affected. “We do not disclose any information that connects someone’s personal health information to anyone outside their circle of care” Dueck told reporters during a Tuesday conference call.

But she said, Lambton has very high measles vaccination rates; about 90 per cent of seven year-olds in Lambton have been vaccinated against the measles and about 96.5 per cent of 17 year-olds are protected according to data from the 2023-2024 school year.

Measles are very contagious and Dueck says a 95 per cent immunization rate is needed to prevent its spread.

“Because it’s so infective, there might be breakthrough cases, however, they’re typically much more mild than cases and unvaccinated individuals,” she said.

Children who haven’t been vaccinated are most vulnerable. “They’re most at risk for severe complications of measles, and that could include pneumonia, hearing loss, encephalitis, seizures,” says the MOH.

Public health released a list of places, where people may have been exposed to the virus.

“Anyone who is exposed should monitor for symptoms of measles, which can appear up to 21 days after exposure,” says Dueck.

“If anyone develops any symptoms of measles, including a fever, rash, red eyes, do not go into public places. Self isolate at home and call your healthcare provider and let them know you might have symptoms of measles so they can implement appropriate precaution for any further steps.”

The measles outbreak in southern Ontario, and the two cases found here this week, have prompted more calls to Lambton Public Health.

“We have been seeing more calls after releasing information about these two separate confirmed measles cases in Lambton County, and that is why we have our vaccine call center set up so that we can respond to those questions as quickly and seamlessly as possible” she said adding there is also an online screening tool to determine if you have the measles.

If you develop symptoms, avoid contact with others and do not attend public places like schools or child care.

Call your health care provider before you head to their location, to tell them of the symptoms so they can take precautions.

Vaccines had basically eradicated measles in Canada in 1988. Between 2013 and 2023, there were 101 confirmed cases of the virus which mostly occurred in people who had been travelling.

Normally, toddlers are vaccinated around 12 to 15 months. There is also a booster given between the ages of four and six years-old

Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health adds in some cases, people who have been exposed to the measles vaccine may need to update their vaccinations.

“There are certain circumstances where there’s been an exposure in a specific setting, and in those cases, there might be further eligibility for measles containing vaccines,” Dueck says. Public health follows up if there has been a possible exposure in a school to talk about additional doses.

While Lambton’s school vaccination rates are in the high 90s, across the province only 70 per cent of school age children are vaccinated against measles according to Public Health Ontario.