Two new cases of measles have been confirmed in Saint John.
Both cases are linked to a previous confirmed case at Kennebecasis Valley High School.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the Saint John area to five.
Public health officials will be setting up immunization clinics for those in the school population who have not received a dose of the MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella) vaccine in the past 28 days.
The province’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jennifer Russell says they have been working hard to vaccinate everyone at the school to contain the disease.
“In the last week, we have immunized about 850 staff and students at Kennebecasis Valley high school. We are also letting people know that vaccination is the best protection against vaccine-preventable illnesses, especially measles in this case,” she said.
A dose of MMR vaccine will be offered for added protection as an outbreak control measure due to recent exposures.
The province is emphasizing the importance of vaccines, as measles is preventable with two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Early symptoms of measles include fever, cough, or white spots in the mouth, followed by a rash.
If you are experiencing symptoms, public health says not to go to the emergency room right away. Call your health provider or 8-1-1 prior to going to a clinic so necessary precautions can be made.
“If you have symptoms, you really need to call 811 ahead of time before going to the emergency department or going to see your family doctor. It’s really, really helpful because that means that nobody else would be exposed to that particular person who is exhibiting symptoms,” said Russell.
Russell, says proper vaccinations are key.
There have been 55 cases of measles nationally this year, most related to travel.
“For people who were born between 1970 and 1995, we know that they probably only had one dose (of MMR). There is no formal catch-up program for that population at the moment, but certainly in cases where people are travelling abroad, that would be something that would be offered to them,” she said.
Russell says the last case of measles in the province was in 2017, and was also travel related.
In New Brunswick, the MMR vaccine is free of charge for babies aged 12 and 18 months.
Adults born in 1970 or later can receive free MMR vaccines if they have not already had two doses.
Adults born before 1970 are considered immune to measles.
