Measles exposure alert

Attention patients and their families

If you have spent  any amount of time  in the  Pediatric Emergency Department (Glen site, Block B, level S1) at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH)  on

• January 19th, between 1 a.m. and 8:28 a.m., and/or
• between 11 p.m. January 19th and 4:44 a.m. January 20th,

you may have been exposed to measles.   

Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air and is prevented by having received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine. 

The virus causes fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eyes) and a generalized body rash.   

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air. It can be prevented by receiving two doses of the measles vaccine. Possible symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and a widespread rash.

If you are considered immune to measles, no action is required. You are considered immune if:

• you have received two doses of the measles vaccine (if you were born in 1970 or later)

OR

• you have not received any doses of the vaccine, but:
  • you were born before 1970
  • serology shows the presence of measles antibodies
  • a medical certificate confirms that you had measles before January 1, 1996
  • diagnostic evidence confirms a previous infection (e.g., serology)

If you are not immune:

• Please contact your healthcare provider or call Info-Santé at 811.
• You may develop measles during the incubation period, which is between January 6 and January 22.
• During the incubation period:
  • Watch for any of the symptoms listed above,
  • Tell healthcare providers before medical appointments that you may have been exposed to measles,
  • Tell your daycare provider or school that you may have been exposed to measles,
  • Avoid contact with individuals who are at risk of developing severe disease:
    • Children less than one year of age
    • Pregnant women
    • Individuals with weakened immune systems

If you or someone who accompanied you to the hospital is pregnant and/or has a weakened immune system and is not considered immune to measles, please contact your physician. If you were accompanied by a child less than one year of age, it is also recommended to contact your child’s pediatrician. 

Please note that you may be contacted by Public Health for follow-up.

Thank you for your collaboration.

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