A travel-related case of measles in the province has been confirmed by Public Health, according to the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA), about a month after a measles outbreak was confirmed in Halifax.
READ MORE: Measles outbreak confirmed after 7 cases diagnosed in Halifax
According to the NSHA in a release, people are being asked to contact health officials or their health care provider if they are showing symptoms or were in one of four locations during certain time periods.
The locations and time periods are:
- WestJet flight WS254 that departed Toronto on March 10 at 9:35 p.m. and arrived in Halifax at 12:32 a.m. March 11.
- The arrivals area of Halifax Stanfield International Airport between 12:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on March 11.
- St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in West Caledonia, N.S., from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 11.
- South Shore Regional Hospital emergency department from 2:30 p.m. March 12 to 9 p.m. on March 15.
Public Health has directly notified family members and friends of those known to have had close contact with the case.
Dr. Ryan Sommers, medical officer of health for Colchester, Cumberland and Pictou areas, said they’re “quite confident” the infection came from outside Canada.
WATCH: An outbreak of the measles has been reported in the Halifax area, Doctor Trevor Arnason from the Nova Scotia Health Authority explains prevention and what symptoms to look for.
“We know for sure this individual was travelling in a country where we know measles can be quite prevalent,” Sommers said.
“We’re suspecting this individual was still incubating on their way travelling to Canada and then presented symptoms once they got to Canada.”
Sommers said the incubation period is typically seven to 10 days, though it can sometimes be as long as 18 days.
The NSHA also says the case is not related to the outbreak reported last month that affected seven people. Sommers said they’re waiting for results from these cases from the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg.
“We’re hoping it’ll give us a genetic map of where that virus came from,” Sommers said.
He said they won’t be performing the same type of test on the newest case as they’re “fairly confident” where it came from, based on where the person said they were travelling from.
READ MORE: Why do parents refuse vaccines? They don’t think they’re necessary anymore: study
Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, sleepiness, irritability, small white spots that could show up in the mouth and throat, and a red blotchy rash on the face which can spread down the body.
Prior to this case and last month’s outbreak, the province had not seen a confirmed case of measles since 2008.
People typically recover from measles within two to three weeks, but it is an illness that can cause serious complications, more often in infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, the health authority says.
Free vaccinations are available for anyone in Nova Scotia born after 1970, and the health authority reminds people to check with their doctor regarding their immunization records.
– With files from Jennifer Grudic, Global News
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