Measles
* Designated Reportable Disease
This is intended as a general guide. Consult a health care provider for diagnosis and for recommendations or advice. Notify the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit if there is a higher than usual number of cases of any disease. To report a case of Measles, use the Reportable Disease Form or call a public health nurse or public health inspector on the Infectious Disease team at 1-800-660-5853. This disease is vaccine preventable.
How it Spreads
Contact with secretions from the nose or mouth of an infected person.
Spreads easily through the air (i.e. coughing, sneezing, talking, being in the same room) or through the contamination of surfaces (as the virus can remain active in the air and surfaces for at least 2 hours).
Incubation period *7–21 days from exposure to onset of fever.
* Incubation period = Time between contact with disease and start of symptom.
How to Recognize
Fever, runny nose, cough, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes (usually begins 7–18 days after exposure), small white spots on the inside of the mouth and throat, and body aches.
In a few days a blotchy red rash appears on the face and progresses down the body.
When it is Contagious
Measles is highly contagious.
Usually 4 days before and up to 4 days after rash begins.
When to Report/Exclude
Report to the Health Unit immediately.
Exclude from child care and school for at least 4 days after start of rash.
Contacts of case with no history of immunization or measles infection should be excluded for 21 days.