Measles case confirmed in Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health is notifying the public after they confirmed that an unimmunized child returning from a trip to the Phillippines had contracted measles.

The public health agency isadvising all people who may have come in contact with the child to tell their doctor and, if they develop symptoms of measles, to seek medical attention.

Ottawa Public Health said the child attends St. Stephen Catholic School in Stittsville. The public healthy agency said they are working with the school and school board to notify exposed students.

The child was also in the following medical locations last week:

• Feb. 25, 2014, 8:45 a.m. to noon: Med-Team Clinic, 103-99 Kakulu Road.
• Feb. 27, 2014: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Active Care Clinic, 1108 Klondike Road.
• Feb. 28, 2014: noon to 2:20 p.m.: CHEO emergency department.

Measles can lead to ear infections, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and even death, and is more severe in adults and infants.

There are no other reported cases at the present time, Ottawa Public Health said. The last case of measles reported in Ottawa was in February 2011 and was travel-related.

People who believe they have measles should isolate themselves and call before visiting a doctor so they can take precautions to protect other patients, Ottawa Public Health said.