One confirmed case of measles has popped up in the Pictou County.
Nova Scotia Health says there are more contacts sick with measles-like symptoms but not yet confirmed cases.
They are working to find out the source, but they believe the cases come from people travelling within Canada to a region with known measles cases.
If you were at the Aberdeen Hospital emergency department in New Glasgow Saturday evening between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., you may have been exposed.
Or, you could have been exposed at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Emergency Department on Saturday between. 10:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Anyone who was there should watch for symptoms, but if you are pregnant, immunocompromised, or under the age of 12, you should contact Public Health immediately at 902-752-5151.
These people would be eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis, which helps prevent measles after you have been exposed.
There are two types of vaccines, one that can be given within 72 hours of the last exposure, and one that can be given within six days of the last exposure.
Nova Scotia Health says the type you can get depends on your age, health, and vaccination history.
If you were exposed, you could develop symptoms as early as seven days later or as late as 21 days later.
Symptoms include:
- fever
- a red blotchy rash on the face, which spreads down the body
- cough, runny nose, red eyes
- small white spots may also show up inside the mouth and throat
If you are showing signs of symptoms and were exposed should call Public Health at902-752-5151. If you have symptoms and need medical care, call 811 or your family doctor.
“The best protection against measles is vaccination. In Nova Scotia, every person born after 1970 should receive two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine after their first birthday. It is possible if you were born between 1970 and 1995 in Nova Scotia that you only got one dose of this vaccine in childhood,” says Nova Scotia Health0.
Correction: A previous version of this story said the potential exposure at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Emergency Department was from 10:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on July 5. Nova Scotia Health released a correction, and in fact, the potential exposure was from 10:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
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