Guelph and area designated a 'risk area' for measles transmission: Province

The Ontario government has designated Guelph and the surrounding area as a "risk area" due to measles circulating in the community and local public health officials are urging everyone to "get vaccinated as soon as possible."

As of Wednesday morning, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is reporting 63 cases of measles in the area the health unit covers. 

"While this designation from the province highlights the overall measles risk to our community, it does not change our core guidance," Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, associate medical officer of health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, said in a media release.

"I am strongly encouraging every person to review their measles vaccine status and — if necessary — get vaccinated as soon as possible," he said.

The designation comes as the latest data from the province shows there have been 1,384 people who have fallen ill from the virus since October.

Back in April, Dr. Nicola Mercer, the CEO and medical officer of health of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, told CBC News the virus was not only spreading in the community but also in schools. 

"Initially when measles was circulating, and we had cases in our area, they were in communities that didn't have a lot of interaction. But now we have some children who are attending public schools who've come down with measles and now we have a lot more exposures and a lot more individuals that we're following up on," Dr. Nicola Mercer, the CEO and medical officer of health for the health unit, said at the time.

Last month, families with students at Brisbane Public School in Erin, Ont., had been notified of a measles case at the school.

There are now three schools listed with having four measles exposures:

• Brisbane Public School in Erin on April 16.
• Erin Public School on April 15 and May 1.
• Centre Peel Public School in Drayton on April 28 and April 29.

People at greatest risk are those who have not yet had two doses of the vaccine. The risk for individuals who are
fully immunized, with two doses of a vaccine, or born before 1970, is still considered very low.

Public health is encouraging children to get immunized earlier than normally recommended. A child six months or older can get one dose, and are able to get a second dose by their first birthday.

Children who have received their first dose can receive their second dose as early as four weeks after their first
dose.

Adults born after 1970 can also receive a first or second dose if they have not already received them.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health says common signs and symptoms of measles include:

• Fever.
• Runny nose.
• Cough.
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
• Tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik's spots).
• Red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads over the rest of the body.