Measles is again a real threat in the developed world and has always been in countries without access to vaccines.
Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Dr. Colin Lee says the virus extremely contagious.
Dr. Lee says the virus is extremely contagious – it begins airborne from a cough or a sneeze – and the germs can live in the air for two hours – and after it drops it will live on a surface for a number of hours.
In a room where the virus has been released – 9/10 unprotected people will be infected.
Initial symptoms include cough, runny nose, and pink eye…then the rash.
Dr. Lee says he’s very concerned with the rate of infection to date, saying the virus is picking up steam. For example in Ontario this year we have 142 cases, last year 64 cases…from 2013 to 2022 101 total cases in ten years.
Anti-vaccine sentiment and outbreaks in local cultural communities that don’t vaccinate are a deadly combination.
Dr.Lee stresses the safety of the vaccine – it’s been around for 60 years, and the consequences of not being vaccinated include death. It effects children primarily – and there was a fatality recently in Texas, and one in Ontario last year.
