Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health is advising people to stay informed about measles vaccinations, especially if traveling outside of North America.
At least there is 17 people infected with measles confirmed It is currently occurring in Canada, with most reports occurring in Quebec and Ontario.
There are currently no cases of measles in any of the three coastal regions.
In recent years, measles has increased significantly. Examples from around the world.
“Measles is so highly contagious that it’s usually the first disease to start coming back when immunization rates drop,” Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, said in an interview Wednesday. “We collectively need to take this measles situation seriously because it represents a serious problem here in our waters, across the country and around the world.”
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, fatigue, and a red rash. Serious complications from measles can occur, especially in very young people.
Vaccination against measles is usually given at 12 and 18 months of age. Dr. Strang says infants between 6 and 12 months of age should be vaccinated with the MMRV vaccine if they are about to travel to areas where there is a high risk of measles.
“Infants do not develop good immunity over a long period of time, so they are not routinely vaccinated until 12 months of age. However, if you are planning to travel and are between 6 and 12 months old, “It’s very important that people get vaccinated now,” says Dr. Strang.
An individual is considered fully protected against measles if they have received two doses of the MMRV vaccine or were born before 1970 (considered to have natural immunity).
Dr. Strang says if you are traveling outside of North America, you should contact your health care professional if you are unsure of your vaccination status or previous immunity.
