Health officials in the Lanaudière region say they are awaiting test results for eight possible cases of measles.
The cases all appear to be related, according to a release from the region’s public health department, and have all surfaced since the beginning of 2015.
“The test results are expected to become available before the end of next week,” the release said. “It is important to stress that the people who came in contact with these suspected cases have all been notified. No public space or school is affected.”
No additional cases have been reported over the past few days, said consulting physician Dr. Joane Désilets.
The public health department is reminding all Quebecers that vaccination is a safe and effective means of preventing measles. The measles vaccine is typically administered to children in the province between the ages of 12 and 18 months.
Measles and other serious but preventable illnesses have been making a comeback in recent years as parents choose to opt out of vaccinating their children. Doctors in Toronto were also responding to a small measles outbreak this week in which four people – three of whom had not been vaccinated – were diagnosed with the infectious disease. Two of the patients were children under the age of 2.
Symptoms of measles include cough, fever, red eyes and fatigue. After a few days, a telltale red, blotchy rash begins to appear on the face and spread down the body. Most people recover within a few weeks, but in some cases the illness can trigger more dangerous conditions like swelling in the brain or seizures. According to the World Health Organization, 145,700 people died from measles worldwide in 2013 – mostly children under the age of 5.
