4 schools flagged for possible measles exposure in Waterloo region as cases rise

There are four schools in Waterloo, Ont., region now being identified as potential public exposure locations for measles as public health warns that cases will rise.

"Waterloo region continues to see an increase in cases and exposures locally, which is consistent with the trajectory of the provincial outbreak," Lynsey Slupeiks, the manager of corporate communications for the Region of Waterloo, said in a news release Friday.

As of Wednesday, Waterloo region has had 78 confirmed measles cases and 22 probable cases — that's since the provincial outbreak in October.

Slupeiks warns that measles exposure can happen in a variety of settings, from schools to public transportation.

"I think what we're seeing now is that there is a circulation throughout the region … not just in isolated geographical areas," said David Aoki, the region's director of infectious disease and chief nursing officer.

4 school exposures 

Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener was closed on May 15 and 16 after public health confirmed a case of measles, with exposures on May 7 and 8. St. Mary's High School in Kitchener was then closed on May 16, also following a confirmed case of measles from exposures on May 8. 

Both schools have since reopened, but not everyone has returned to school, Aoki said.

"If students have no doses [of vaccine] … they unfortunately have to be excluded for the entire 21 days," said Aoki. 

The 21-day exclusion period, according to Aoki, is the number of days students without up-to-date vaccination records have to be excluded from attending school counted from the last day of exposure. That's the period of time it can take for someone who was exposed to the virus to develop signs and symptoms of measles and potentially become infectious. 

"A single dose will not allow them to get back into school … [but] there is a small number of students who may be able to return if they only had one dose, and we have provided clinics with the schools already to help service them," he further explained.

Aoki said "the vast majority" of students and staff at the two schools were fully immunized. 

"That's partly thanks to our annual running of the Immunization of School Pupils Act to make sure that students' records are up to date," he said.

Two other schools in the region were also identified as potential public exposure locations. Winterbourne Parochial Elementary School in Kitchener had exposures on May 2, and Franklin Public School in Kitchener had exposures on May 12 and 15.

The two schools were not closed.

Aoki says the measles cases are "still predominantly similar" to what is happening on a provincial level. That is, most of the confirmed cases are people who are unvaccinated, or are only partially vaccinated. 

Guelph school exposures

Guelph and the surrounding area were declared as a "risk area" for measles early May. 

Three public schools in Guelph were identified as exposure locations so far in May. Erin Public School has had exposures on three separate occasions — May 1, 2 and 5. Paisley Road Public School has had exposures between April 30 and May 1. Guelph Outdoor School was reported to have measles exposure on May 2. 

Despite the exposures, none of the Guelph schools were closed. 

Expanded eligibility for measles vaccine

In the news release Friday, public health announced new guidelines for the expanded eligibility for measles vaccine. The guidelines are as follows: 

• Infants age six months to one year of age are recommended to receive a single dose of vaccine (they must receive two additional doses after their first birthday).

• Children aged one year to four years are recommended to receive an earlier second dose of vaccine as soon as possible (in the routine schedule they were eligible after four years of age).

• Adults born on or after 1970 are now recommended to receive a second dose of vaccine if they do not already have one.

Aoki says public health is working on arranging clinics to get people who may not have health care providers, as well as those who need support in getting vaccinated.