Lambton Public Health (LPH) is prepared to handle any potential emergencies associated with measles as concerns grow about the global outbreak and cases within Canada.
While no cases have been reported in Sarnia-Lambton, LPH Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karalyn Dueck said measles is highly contagious.
"The most highly contagious virus essentially, and so you do need a high population coverage of measles vaccination or immunity to prevent transmission," said Dueck during last week's Lambton County budget meeting. "As such, this year we are enforcing the Immunization of School Pupils Act. We have very good population coverage among our school children so that is comforting in terms of preventing transmission."
Last week, 390 elementary school students were suspended after LPH had not received updated immunization records or proof of exemption. High school students are required to have their records updated by March 26.
Immunization records included under the act are measles, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, mumps, rubella, meningitis, whooping cough, and chicken pox.
"Until now, most measles cases that came to Ontario [were] imported," Dueck said. "We have seen in York Region that there was an individual who was fully vaccinated and it was not travel related, and so our chief medical officer of health for Ontario has asked all health units to alert our healthcare providers to be prepared."
Dueck said a memo was sent to healthcare providers at the end of February, detailing the ways LPH is prepared to prevent measles and ensure that if there are suspect or confirmed cases, they're contained.
Lambton County General Manager for Public Health Services Andrew Taylor also clarified during last week's meeting, that there will be no budget impacts if vaccination efforts need to be ramped up.
"This budget anticipates us dealing with any diseases of public health significance and obviously we have mechanisms should anything overwhelm our resources where we could activate that and apply for funding as needed," said Taylor. "But we are prepared for those emergencies if you will."
The last report from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) specified that as of February 24, seven cases of measles had been reported in Canada for 2024.
Meanwhile, the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) issued a warning on March 11 after an infected person visited several areas of the city before getting their measles diagnosis.
In January, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit issued a warning for potential measles exposure at various locations, including an ONroute service centre in West Lorne.