Public health officials say there has been a measles exposure at Chatham Christian School.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit (CKPHU) notified the school on Thursday that a student with measles was present at the school at 475 Keil Drive South in Chatham for an entire month. According to CK Public Health, the infected individual was attending school from February 7 until March 4, 2025.
CK Public Health said it continues to work closely with school administration to provide guidance to school personnel and families.
Nine additional points of exposure have also been identified that include Thamesview Family Health Team at 465 Grand Avenue West in Chatham on March 5 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and on March 6 from 2:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. along with the Emergency Department at the Chatham hospital on February 15 from 2:35 p.m. to 5:31 p.m.
The others are at the YMCA at 101 Courthouse Lane in Chatham on February 25 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Chatham Christian School Celebration of Learning Event at 475 Keil Drive South in Chatham on February 27 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Chatham Christian School Discovery Day Kindergarten Registration at 475 Keil Drive South in Chatham on February 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., No Frills at 835 Queen Street in Chatham on March 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and two at Tilbury Walk-In Clinic at 15 Mill Street East in Tilbury on March 5 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and March 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Public health officials want you to call CK Public Health at 519-352-7270 ext: 5902 if you were present during these timeframes and are not up-to date with your vaccinations.
The health unit said measles is a viral infection that spreads through coughing and sneezing and is very contagious. However, most school-aged children who are fully vaccinated with two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine are protected.
Chatham-Kent Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai said the risk to the community is small because most people are vaccinated against the measles.
"When we survey 17 year olds as part of the vaccine verification process, 95 per cent of people aged 17 are up to date on their measles vaccine and I think the number is 88 per cent of children that are 7 years old," said Nesathurai.
Dr. Nesathurai doesn't plan to have any extra vaccination clinics like other areas are doing.
This measles case is the 6th in Chatham-Kent so far.
Dr. Nesathurai noted delays can happen between symptoms and public notification because public health officials want to confirm a case with lab results and other data before alerting the community.
"Generically, the reason there may be a delay between the time of what we see in retrospect, meaning when we know in the past when somebody was sick and the time that we might want to make an announcement or communication to the public can be quite long," the doctor noted.
Public health officials noted measles begins with a mild to moderate fever accompanied by cough, runny nose, and red eyes usually about 10-12 days after exposure, adding that tiny blue-white spots inside the mouth may also be present.
A red blotchy rash appears 3-7 days after these initial symptoms, usually on the face at first, along the hairline, and then spreading to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet, lasting 5-6 days.
The most frequent complications are lung infections, ear infections, and diarrhea, according to the health unit, adding that secondary bacterial and viral pneumonia following measles is also common.
The CKPHU wants students who have not received two doses of MMR vaccine, including those who have a medical or other exemption to vaccination, to stay home and avoid high-risk settings and people for 21 days after their most recent exposure.
"Timely administration of the MMR vaccine can reduce the risk of infection in susceptible individuals exposed to measles when provided within 72 hours of the exposure," CKPHU told parents and guardians in a letter that was sent home on Thursday. "When MMR vaccine is offered 72 hours after exposure it will not reduce the risk of the initial exposure, but will provide protection from any subsequent measles exposures."
Public health officials encourage parents and guardians to contact their healthcare provider to discuss immunization as soon as possible and if they don't have one, children may be able to receive the immunization at CK Public Health.
The health unit recommends calling an emergency department or walk-in clinic before visiting them to tell them they have had an exposure to measles or have symptoms in order to allow the healthcare provider to make special arrangements to evaluate the patient without putting other patients and medical staff at risk.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance President and CEO Adam Topp said hospital staff is very vigilant with regard to the measles and the Chatham hospital has a separate area with negative pressure rooms and scrubbers to handle measles patients.
"We want people to call first so that we can take necessary precautions. We actually have a separate area in the hospital that we'll direct people to so they're not mingling in the waiting room, for example, with measles," Topp said.
Click here for more information about measles.