Measles exposure risk in Saskatoon

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has identified one confirmed case of measles in a Saskatoon resident that was acquired through international travel. The SHA is notifying the public of an exposure risk to the measles virus in Saskatoon.  Individuals who were at any of the following locations during these time periods should monitor for measles symptoms:

• Sunday, January 7, 2024 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at:
  • Reitman’s in Stonebridge 3011 Clarence Avenue S
  • Dollarama in Stonebridge 3011 Clarence Avenue S
  • Walmart in Stonebridge 3035 Clarence Avenue S
• Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:
  • 1st Floor Arts Building Café,  9 Campus Drive (University of Saskatchewan)
• Tuesday, January 16 from 7:00 a.m. to 09:30 a.m. at:
  • Royal University Hospital Adult Emergency waiting room

Symptoms of measles include:

• fever,
• cough,
• runny nose,
• red eyes,
• fatigue,
• irritability (feeling cranky or in a bad mood),
• small, white spots (known as Koplik spots) inside the mouth and throat, and
• red blotchy rash, which develops on the face and spreads down the body about three to seven days after symptoms begin and can last four to seven days.

What should you do if you have potentially been exposed?

If you exhibit any of the above symptoms AND were at the above locations during the identified times, please don a mask and call Healthline 811 for directions. If you are in medical distress, present to emergency or call 911, AND identify that you may have been exposed to measles.

Exposure at Royal University Hospital Emergency: Those who were potentially exposed at RUH emergency may be eligible for pre-emptive treatment. So, for who have potentially been exposed at the RUH emergency room during the times noted above AND are born in 1964 or later AND have NOT received two doses of measles vaccine (measles-rubella (MR), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and/or the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV)), please attend a clinic at Northeast Health Centre (#108 - 407 Ludlow Street Saskatoon) on Saturday January 20, 2024 between 9:00 am and 3:45 pm or Sunday January 21, 2024 between 9:00 and 3:45 pm. This is a drop in clinic and no appointment is required.

If you are unsure of your vaccination status, please check your health record on MySaskHealthRecord.

Measles is a highly contagious. It can spread very easily by breathing contaminated air after an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by touching a contaminated surface such as a doorknob or a shopping cart. If individuals breathe the contaminated air or touch a contaminated surface, then touch their nose, eyes or mouth, they can become infected. The virus can live up to two hours in the air or on surfaces in a space where a person coughed or sneezed.

It can spread to others from four days before a rash appears until four days after a rash develops. Through this period, a person needs to stay in strict isolation to avoid spreading the infection to others.

Measles can be prevented by vaccination. The measles vaccine is safe, effective and free. With two doses, measles vaccination is almost 100 per cent effective. Please review your immunizations in your MySaskHealthRecord or discuss with your health practitioner to ensure all you and your family’s immunizations are up to date.