Niagara Region Public Health is warning students, parents and staff at Crossroads Public School that anyone at the school from Feb. 25 to 28 may have been exposed to a case of measles.
Parents of Crossroads students received a letter on March 7 from the Niagara Region medical officer of health Dr. Azim Kasmani and shared by the District School Board of Niagara, informing of “an individual diagnosed with measles that might have exposed others.”
Niagara Region Public Health is contacting affected families directly while listing potential exposure sites online.
“This means your child and anyone else who was present during the exposure date(s) above could become sick with measles. However, having two doses of a measles-containing vaccine is almost 100 per cent effective at preventing measles,” said Kasmani.
Crossroads parent Janice Dodd has two kids in grades six and four attending the school and a third attending the preschool program.
“Safety has to come first,” she said.
Such preventable illnesses can be a burden to an already overwhelmed healthcare system in NOTL, which causes a ripple effect to everyone in need of health care, she said.
Dodd’s children are fully vaccinated but she worries about it spreading into the community.
“Some kids don’t have access to vaccination because of different situations — they may be allergic. But having parents choose not to vaccinate their kids, that’s another story,” said Dodd.
Children typically receive their first dose of the measles vaccine 12 to 15 months old and a second dose is given to kids four to six years old.
Dr. Kasmani advises worried parents with kids starting school who haven’t had their second dose yet, “now might be a good time to ask your family doctor.”
Niagara Region Public Health advises symptomatic residents to call ahead before visiting clinics or hospitals to prevent further exposure.
Measles can remain active and contagious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has been present.
Simpson’s Pharmacy owner Sean Simpson said there’s a need for more education about the importance of vaccines as more people are hesitant to vaccinate against contagious diseases.
“Measles can cause fatal complications, yet is entirely preventable,” said Simpson.
His kids don’t go to Crossroads but he was not informed of the exposure incident at the school beforehand.
Unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus risk severe illness including fever, cough and a spreading rash. Measles symptoms may take 21 days to appear.
Canada declared measles eradicated in 1998 but global cases surged post-pandemic as vaccination rates dipped.
Niagara Region Public Health advises checking immunization records via healthcare providers on its website.
