Several measles exposure locations identified in northeastern Ontario

Two new cases of measles have been reported in the region by the Northeastern Public Health Unit.

The health unit says the cases are in the District of Temiskaming. It said the risk to the public is low and the situation is being monitored.

The two people diagnosed with measles are currently in isolation, according to the health unit.

Ontario is currently coping with a measles outbreak. Last Thursday, Public Health Ontario said it had confirmed 89 new cases over the last week, bringing the province's case count to 661 since an outbreak began in the fall.

Last month, the North Bay-Parry Sound Health Unit said it was monitoring 11 cases of measles. Those cases originated from someone who travelled to southwestern Ontario. Ontario's chief medical officer of health has linked all of the southwestern Ontario outbreak cases to a large Mennonite gathering in New Brunswick last fall.

Northeastern Public Health said there are several exposure locations linked to the two newly confirmed cases. If you were at one of the locations and were born on or after Jan. 1, 1970 and are not up to date with your measles vaccinations, you are asked to contact public health.

Here are the list of exposure locations which all took place on March 29:

• Veterans Park, Cobden, Ont. - 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Ontario Northland Bus - from Veteran's Park in Cobden, Ont. (departure at 12 p.m.) to the bus terminal in North Bay (arrival at 3:15 p.m.)
• Pronto Food Mart, Petawawa, Ont. - 1:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Ontario Northland Bus Terminal, North Bay, Ont. - 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
• Northgate Mall, North Bay, Ont. - 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
• Ontario Northland Bus - from bus terminal in North Bay, Ont. (departure at 4:15 p.m.) to bus terminal in Timmins, Ont. (arrival at 10 p.m.)
• Englehart Motel, Englehart, Ont 7:20 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.
• Ontario Northland Bus - from bus terminal in North Bay, Ont. (departure at 3:45 p.m.) to bus terminal in Sudbury, Ont. (arrival at 5:20 p.m.)

The health unit said people are considered protected if they have at least one of the following:

• Proof of vaccination with two valid doses of a measles-containing vaccine, such as MMR.
• Blood work showing antibodies to measles.
• Documentation of prior laboratory-confirmed measles infection.
• Born before 1970 (with the exception of health care workers and military).

If you don't have any of the above, the health unit said you are not protected against measles.

If you think you have been exposed and are not fully protected, public health said you should monitor for symptoms for 21 days. If you do develop symptoms and need medical care, you should call ahead before going to a clinic or hospital.