The Chief Public Health Office is preparing for potential cases of measles on PEI in the next few weeks. As of March 13, 2024, there have been 29 confirmed measles cases in Canada across Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Some of these cases are related to travel outside of Canada, but others were acquired locally. Montreal is considered the country’s epicenter as there is community spread occurring locally in and around the city. Note: There are no confirmed cases in PEI at this time.

Measles is one of the most highly infectious vaccine-preventable diseases. It has been eliminated from circulation in Canada since 1998 due to highly effective vaccines and successful public health programs.

Measles is spread when you

• breathe air in a location where someone who is infected is or has recently been
• have direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of someone who is infected
• touch a contaminated surface or object and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth

The symptoms include

• fever
• runny nose
• red watery eyes
• cough
• red blotchy rash that begins on the head and spreads down to the trunk, arms, and legs.

Measles usually starts with illness for 3-4 days before the rash appears. The fever tends to be high (at least 104 degrees F/40℃). The fever and rash usually disappear in 3-5 days. Complications of measles include ear infection, viral meningitis (inflammation of the brain), or pneumonia. On rare occasions, measles can result in death. If you have recently returned from travel and are experiencing symptoms of measles, you should seek health care, consider calling ahead to let them know of your history of travel, and wear a mask to your appointment.

Who is recommended to get a dose of the measles vaccine? Some individuals will have protection based on their age. The current recommendations for vaccination are as follows:

• Adults born before 1970 are considered to have acquired natural immunity and do not require the vaccine. Exception: individuals traveling outside of Canada should receive one dose of measles vaccine.
• Those born in or after 1970 who have not had measles disease or have not received two doses of measles vaccine should receive two doses of vaccine.
• Regardless of age, students entering post-secondary education, health-care workers, and military personnel should receive two doses if they have no evidence of having had the disease or do not have documentation of two doses of a measles vaccine.
• Any person living in PEI who is eligible may receive the vaccine free of charge at Public Health Nursing.

Public Health Nursing is holding clinics to immunize for measles. In Charlottetown, they are located at 161 St. Peters Road, telephone 902-368-4530. If you are unable to attend these clinics, make an appointment at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre to get vaccinated. You can also make an appointment to discuss this and other vaccines with the registered nurse at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre.

To learn more about measles, check out https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/measles-mumps-and-rubella-german-measles-vaccine-mmr

To see if you are due or overdue for other vaccines, visit www.canimmunize.ca/en/pei-assessment-tool 

For more information on MMR, view https://youtu.be/jL9QfTubi7I