The Independent

Public health says people who were at Bethel Pentecostal Church in Sarnia Friday night may have been exposed to the measles virus.

Lambton Public Health issued a news release notifying the community of a possible exposure after the third confirmed measles case in the county. This time, officials say people at the London Line church Friday between 7 and 10 pm may have been in contact with someone with the virus. Public Health is working to find people who may have been exposed.

March 21, 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. March 23, 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.

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,” said Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karalyn Dueck Tuesday during a news conference.

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 infectious, 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.

Aside from the possible exposure Friday at Bethel Pentecostal Church, public health released a list of places, where people may have been exposed to the virus.

Anyone who may have been exposed should contact public health at 519-383-8331 if you have

• a severely weakened immune system;
• are pregnant and not vaccinated against measles
• if you are born in or after 1970 and are unvaccinated or have only received
  one dose of measles vaccine.

Public health officials will discuss with you if you need another measles vaccine.

Measles is highly contagious. The virus spreads through the air for up to two hours after a person with the virus leaves.

Signs of the virus include a fever, a red, blotchy rash, red watery eyes, and white spots in the mouth.

If you think you have been exposed, stay at home and call your doctor immediately. If you have to go to a doctor’s office or the hospital, call before you arrive so they can take precautions.