Measles outbreak declared in western NB, 2 people hospitalized

New Brunswick Public Health says a measles outbreak is underway in the Fredericton and Upper St. John Valley region.

Since Thursday, two more cases have been confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province since October 24 to five.

According to Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Yves Léger, the first confirmed case was an international traveler who returned to New Brunswick after contracting measles.

The subsequent cases that we have had since that time have been the result of the transmission that occurred with this first case.

The situation is alarming, says public health

Dr. Léger specifies that measles is one of the most contagious infections and that the province takes the situation seriously.

For us in public health, the situation is very alarming in fact. Five cases doesn’t sound like a lot of cases, but measles is an infection that worries us a lothe specifies.

Vaccination clinics are being held Friday and Saturday in Carleton North and Stanley, in the western part of the province.

Given the rapidly evolving situation, Horizon will extend the opening dates of the two clinics. The one in Stanley will be open next Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. That of Carleton North will also be Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Two hospitalizations

In a press release, the province indicates that two people are hospitalized at the Dr. Everett Chalmers where precautionary measures have been put in place. There is no known risk of exposure at this facility.

Dr. Léger says the measles vaccine has been administered for more than 50 years and has proven itself. He recommends that New Brunswickers born after 1970 check whether they have received two doses of this vaccine.

The measles vaccine is given to children aged 12 months to 18 months. People born before 1970 are generally immune to measles.

Public health says it is investigating other possible cases of measles. Updates and alerts are available on its website. (New window)

With information from Téléjournal Acadie