Health authority warns of measles exposure risk in Preeceville

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is warning the public about a possible measles exposure risk in Preeceville.

In a statement, the health authority said a case of measles has been confirmed in the community, and asked anyone who was at the Shop Easy Foods on Main Street N. on Tuesday, April 29 from 2-4:30 p.m. to monitor for measles symptoms. Anyone who is not vaccinated for measles and was exposed was advised to call the province’s 811 health line, along with anyone who develops symptoms.

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“Measles is highly contagious. It can spread very easily to others through the air,” the health authority explained in a statement.

“The virus can live up to two hours in the air or on surfaces in a space where a person coughed or sneezed. It can spread from four days before a rash appears until four days after a rash develops. Through this period, a person needs to stay in strict isolation to avoid spreading the infection to others.”

The health authority said symptoms of the highly contagious virus include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, fatigue, irritability, small white spots – called Koplik spots – inside the mouth and throat, and a red, blotchy rash that develops on the face before spreading down the body three to seven days after symptoms begin. The rash can last four to seven days.

“Anyone potentially exposed may be eligible for preventative treatment for up to six days after exposure. Do not attend a clinic in person if you are symptomatic, but call HealthLine 811 for information and instructions,” the health authority advised.

Anyone who is in medical distress should not wait to seek care, but the health authority asked anyone who may have been exposed to measles to call ahead to inform health-care staff before visiting a hospital or clinic so that proper precautions can be taken to prevent the virus from spreading.

Measles can be prevented by vaccination, and the health authority noted that the vaccine is “safe, effective and free.” With two doses, the vaccine is nearly 100 per cent effective at warding off the virus. For those who don’t know their immunization status, the health authority said records can be found on the MySaskHealthRecord website.

The warning of the exposure risk in Preeceville follows a similar warning issued for Rosthern earlier this week.

That warning was for those who attended the emergency department at the Rosthern Hospital on Second Street on Friday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It also applies to those who were at the emergency department between 7:25 p.m. on Friday May 2 and 3:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 3.

Measles is spreading worldwide and the World Health Organization has expressed concerns.

“Get yourself up to date with the immunizations,” said the Sask. Health Authority’s Dr. David Torr. “Otherwise, you’re not properly protected against measles – and it is here.”

Canada’s top doctor said recently she was concerned about measles outbreaks.

Dr. Theresa Tam says the majority of recent infections reported in Canada were among people who were unvaccinated, including many children, and infants under one.

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health in October found a decline in measles vaccination coverage among children ages two to seven before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

—with files from The Canadian Press