A Montreal hospital is warning its patients about possible measles exposure, after an employee worked there while contagious with the disease.
McGill University Health Centre says the possible exposure could have occurred at its Glen adult site between March 23 and March 27.
MUHC infectious diseases specialist Dr. Marie-Astrid Lefebvre that the employee in question 鈥渉ad limited contact with patients and staff鈥� but the hospital isn鈥檛 taking any chances.
鈥淔or the moment, there is no evidence that the disease has been transmitted to other people, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely until the end of the incubation period,鈥� Lefebvre added.
The 鈥渧ast majority鈥� of those possibly exposed are likely immune, including those born before 1970 and those who received two doses of the MMR vaccine, she said.
Patients who were not born before 1970 and who do not have records of both doses of the vaccine are asked to call the hospital. Visitors who fit the same description should call Info-Sante at 8-1-1.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, red and watery eyes, tiny white spots in the mouth, and a rash that appears first on the face and then spreads, according to MUHC.
Measles can cause serious complications, particularly in patients with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and children under age one.
The MMR vaccine is considered 97 per cent effective at preventing the disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles was considered eradicated in Canada but has re-emerged. there were 28 cases confirmed in Canada this year, as of March 23. Those cases occurred in Quebec, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Alberta. Possible cases have also been reported in Ontario.
