A call for vigilance against measles

health. The Public Health Department of the CIUSSS de l'Estry-CHUS has issued a wake-up call since at least five cases of measles have appeared in Estry.

Such vigilance is required for those who have visited about a dozen places since March 19. One location is Magog Rest House on Interstate 10 (Exit 115). The notice affects people who passed through 2911 Melita Road on March 22 between 2:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.

The other places are:

• Louvrier de Bromont (March 19, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
• Hart Store in Granby (March 19, 12pm-2:30pm)
• Granby Dollarama (March 19, 12:30-3pm)
• Super C of Granby (March 20, 10am-2:30pm)
• Granby SOS Emergency Assistance (March 20, 12pm-3pm)
• Strom Nordic Spa in Sherbrooke (March 22, 9am-3:30pm)
• Familiprix Pharmacy in Granby (March 24, 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.)
• Granby Hospital (March 26, 12:25 p.m. and 4:20 p.m.).

CIUSSS de l'Estrie recommends this vigilance since measles is a highly contagious airborne disease. “Just sharing the same space with an infectious person can be enough to cause infection,” we read in a press release.

If you attend any of the mentioned places at the indicated times, you are considered to have been exposed to measles. So you should check if you are protected against measles. If you are considered protected, your risk of contracting measles is very low. As a precaution, you should still watch for signs of measles.

If you are not considered protected against measles or if you do not know, get vaccinated against measles by making an appointment at www.clisante.ca or by phone at 1 877 644-4545. Isolate yourself at home from the fifth day after your first exposure to measles, up to and including the 14th day after your last exposure. Avoid contact with children under 12 months, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

At all times, watch for signs of measles. Symptoms include a high temperature, as well as a cough, runny nose, or red and watery (or runny) eyes. After two to four days, redness begins in the face and then spreads to the entire body and continues for at least 3 days.

Additional information at 811.