Were you at these locations on Nov. 3? You may have been exposed to measles

Public health officials in Durham Region are investigating a possible measles exposure linked to a child who had recently traveled internationally and tested positive for the disease. The Durham Region Health Department issued a news release about a confirmed unimmunized case and is examining potential exposures.

Three locations have been identified where members of the public may have been exposed. The first involves Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET552, which departed Addis Ababa on Nov. 2 at 11:32 p.m. East Africa Time and arrived in Toronto on Nov. 3 at 7:30 a.m. The second exposure site is Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 on Nov. 3 between 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. The third site is the Lakeridge Health Ajax-Pickering Emergency Department waiting room at 580 Harwood Ave. S. on Nov. 3 from 10:40 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals who may have been exposed are advised to monitor for measles symptoms through Nov. 24. The health department notes that the virus can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, or talks.

Measles symptoms to watch for include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, a red rash that starts on the face and spreads downward, and Koplik spots that may appear inside the mouth or throat. If symptoms develop, people should stay home and avoid work or school, and call ahead before visiting a clinic to inform staff of possible measles.

As of the report, the Durham Region Health Department indicated five confirmed measles cases in the region for the year. Provincewide, Public Health Ontario reported 35 measles cases in the year up to Oct. 13.