Toronto's Pearson airport: Possible measles exposure prompts health officials to investigate

Health officials in Ontario’s Peel Region are investigating a new case of measles, warning that some people who were at Toronto Pearson Airport over the weekend could have been exposed to the highly contagious disease. Officials said the exposure would have occurred on May 3 after an Air Canada flight AC540 from Seattle to Toronto landed, according to a news release by Peel Public Health on Wednesday. People who were in the vicinity of Terminal 1 between 7:28 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET could have come into contact with measles. “The measles virus spreads from an infected person through infectious respiratory particles through the air but it may also spread through direct contact infected nasal or throat secretions,” according to Infection Prevention and Control Canada . If possible, health officials try to contact anyone who was at the site of exposure. However, officials said that anyone who believes they were at Pearson at that time or thinks they have been exposed to measles should check their immunization record to confirm that they have up-to-date vaccinations. Anyone with symptoms should contact their health care provider or Peel Public Health. “Those concerned about symptoms should call their health care provider before going to see them to inform them they may have been in contact with someone who has measles,” per Peel Public Health’s news release. “Do not attend work or school.” Measles can spread easily to people who are not immunized or to people who have not been vaccinated. Those who are most at risk of complications are babies under one year of age, pregnant women who have not been immunized, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can arise between seven and 21 days after a person has been infected. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes (including conjunctivitis), sensitivity to light, and red rash lasting four to seven days. Last year, the Peel Region had three confirmed cases of measles. This year, there have already been six confirmed cases in the region. Ontario has reported the highest number of measles cases across the country. As of April 19, there have been 993 cases, according to data from the federal government . Other provinces have also reported cases, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec. In Canada, there have been 1,019 confirmed cases of measles so far this year.

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