The number of measles cases continues to rise in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia Health says there are now 30 cases of measles in its northern zone, with eight of those lab-confirmed and the others considered confirmed based on symptoms and household exposure.
A news release Thursday from the health authority says the new cases are “mainly found in large households and specific, small communities with close contact.”
While Public Health says it expects the number of cases to rise in the coming weeks, the risk to the public is still considered low, as most people are protected from measles by being vaccinated or from previous infection.
No new public exposure sites have been identified, and none of the current cases are linked to previous public exposures at the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow or St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish.
Nova Scotia Health says it is believed that the cases all stem from travel within Canada to regions with known measles cases.
“We would like to thank the communities involved,” Dr. Ryan Sommers, Public Health’s senior regional medical officer of health, said in the news release. “The communities are being very careful to protect others, and we thank them for their ongoing co-operation with our Public Health teams while we support them and limit further spread.”
Symptoms of measles include:
- Fever.
- Cough, runny nose, red eyes.
- Small white spots inside the mouth and throat.
- A red blotchy rash on the face that spreads down the body.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads by air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
While most people with measles recover within two to three weeks, some people have serious complications, and infants, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant people are more at risk.
