Grey Bruce Public Health Warns of Potential Measles Exposure at Owen Sound Hospital
GBPH has notified the public of possible measles exposure at Owen Sound Hospital ER between April 2–3, 2025. Find out who’s at risk, symptoms to watch for, and what to do next.
Grey Bruce Public Health (GBPH) is alerting the public to a potential measles exposure at the emergency department of Brightshores Health System’s Owen Sound Hospital earlier this month.
The warning follows a confirmed case of measles in a local resident who visited the emergency department beginning around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, and remained there until approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 3.
Health officials say the individual’s vaccination status is currently unknown.
According to GBPH, the measles virus can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. While all registered patients who were in the emergency department between 9:37 p.m. on April 2 and 8:28 a.m. on April 3 have been contacted, there may have been unregistered individuals present during that period who have not yet been notified.
Public Health Advice
Anyone who was at the emergency department during the exposure window is advised to:
Confirm their measles vaccination status. Individuals born before 1970 are generally considered immune. Those born after 1970 should have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine. If unsure, people are encouraged to check with their healthcare provider or review their records through ICON.
Seek medical advice if not protected. People who are not vaccinated or are unsure of their immunity should contact their healthcare provider or public health to determine whether post-exposure treatment is appropriate. Treatment is most effective within six days of exposure.
Watch for symptoms. Measles symptoms typically appear 7 to 21 days after exposure and may include high fever, cough, runny nose, sore eyes, and light sensitivity. A rash generally appears three to seven days after symptoms begin, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body.
Isolate and call ahead. Anyone showing symptoms should stay home, isolate immediately, and contact a healthcare provider. Unvaccinated household members should also remain at home and consult with public health. If medical care is needed, call the facility ahead of time to allow infection control measures to be put in place.
Ontario is currently experiencing a province-wide measles outbreak. As of April 2, 661 cases have been reported across 13 public health unit regions. Approximately 95% of those infected had no known immunity or an unknown vaccination status.
The Grey-Bruce case is believed to be related to travel outside the region.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. A person can transmit the virus from four days before to four days after the onset of the rash.
Prevention
Vaccination remains the most effective protection against measles, the GBPH says. A single dose of a measles-containing vaccine offers 85% to 95% protection; a second dose increases that protection to nearly 100%.
In Ontario, the measles vaccine is part of the routine immunization schedule. Children receive their first dose at one year of age and a second dose between ages four and six. Adults who have never had measles or been vaccinated can also receive the vaccine free of charge.
Additional doses may be recommended for certain groups, including infants aged 6–11 months, adults born after 1970, and individuals travelling to areas experiencing measles outbreaks.
While most people recover fully within two to three weeks, measles can cause serious complications in some cases, particularly for infants, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. Possible complications include pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), and seizures. In rare cases, measles can be fatal.
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