Who is protected from measles

Vaccination is the best form of protection. You are considered protected or immune if you:

• received two doses of the measles vaccine after your first birthday (at least 4 weeks apart), or
• have bloodwork that shows immunity or
• were born before 1970

Routine measles vaccination schedule in Ontario

Accessing your vaccination records

If you are unsure about your vaccination records, check them online through the Province of Ontario’s ICON  service (external link). You can also reach out to your health care provider to request your records.

Visiting high-risk settings and travel

• Make sure you are immune by receiving two doses of measles-containing vaccine or through bloodwork to confirm immunity.
• Getting vaccinated is important for those who work, attend, or volunteer in health care, childcare, a school or with the military. It is also important if you plan to travel.
• The second MMR vaccine should be given at least four weeks after the first dose to be effective.
• If travelling to areas with active measles, infants (6-12 months) can receive an early dose of MMR vaccine. Two additional doses would still be required after the first birthday.

Visiting higher-risk areas in Ontario

• Halton is not currently experiencing a measles outbreak. However, some public health units (external link) have updated their measles vaccine recommendations where the risk of exposure to measles is higher.
• If you visit, work or participate in activities (such as sports, school or worship) in an affected area, follow the vaccine recommendations for that area. You may be advised to get an earlier or additional dose of the MMR vaccine.

Outbreak-related measles immunization schedules in Ontario

For routine measles schedule, see Routine Measles Vaccination Schedule in Ontario. For more information, visit Public Health Ontario’s (PHO) resource (external link).

Where to get the measles vaccine

• Contact your Health Care Provider or a walk-in clinic.
• If your child receives the vaccine, report it to Halton Region Public Health.

Symptoms of measles

Symptoms usually appear 10-14 days after exposure to the virus (but can range from 7 to 21 days). Symptoms include:

• fever
• cough
• runny nose
• red, watery eyes
• rash with red spots and blotchy patches that start on the face and spread down the body, arms and legs
• small, blue-white spots (Koplik spots) on the inside of the mouth

Most people with measles recover in about 10 days. However, symptoms can be more severe for infants and adults.

If you think you have measles

• Isolate, stay home and avoid contact with others.
• Call before visiting a clinic or hospital so they can prepare for your arrival and prevent the spread of the virus.
• Wear a well-fitting, medical mask ( for example, a surgical mask) when getting a medical assessment.

Your health care provider will assess you and will test you if they think you have measles.

Complications from measles

Measles can lead to:

• ear infections
• lung infections (pneumonia)
• middle ear infections
• seizures
• swelling of the brain (encephalitis)
• possible death

In rare cases, a fatal brain disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis can be triggered years after being infected with measles.

While measles does not cause birth defects, pregnant individuals with measles can have premature delivery and miscarriages. 

Unvaccinated children, unvaccinated pregnant individuals and those with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of complications.

Measles diagnosis and treatment

• Measles is diagnosed using urine, nose and throat tests. It can take a few days for the laboratory to confirm test results.
• When a case of measles is confirmed, Halton Public Health will complete case and contact management.
• There is no specific treatment for measles. Most people can recover at home with rest, fluids, and good nutrition.
• In severe cases, hospitalization may be needed.
• Once you have had measles, you are usually protected for life.

What to do after exposure

• Monitor for symptoms for 21 days after you were exposed to measles.
• Check if you’re immune.
• If you develop symptoms, follow these instructions to protect others.
• If you work, attend or volunteer in health care, childcare, schools or the military, please call 311   as you may be required to provide proof of immunity to help protect vulnerable populations.
• If you are an infant (under 12 months), pregnant or immunocompromised, call 311   or talk to your health care provider. You may be eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis, which can help prevent or reduce the severity of illness.

How Halton Region Public Health notifies you about measles exposure

If you are identified as a contact of measles, Public Health will attempt to notify you through one or more of the following:

• Call or text message (Halton Region may use an automated phone and text-based service to notify individuals that they were exposed to measles)
• Send a letter to your home
• Issue a media release if the exposure happened in a public place where we can’t get people’s contact information

For current exposure alerts in Ontario, visit Measles Exposures in Ontario  (external link) .

Public Health Ontario provides detailed information on measles cases in Ontario. This information is updated weekly. View the latest Measles in Ontario Enhanced Epidemiological Summary report (external PDF).