{"id":30527,"date":"2025-04-17T11:30:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T15:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?p=30527"},"modified":"2025-06-10T09:40:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T13:40:39","slug":"measles-on-the-rise-in-wdgph-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/measles-on-the-rise-in-wdgph-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Measles on the rise in WDGPH region"},"content":{"rendered":"

(April 16, 2025) By: Joanne Shuttleworth, The Wellington Advertiser<\/p>\n

WELLINGTON COUNTY \u2013 The number of measles cases in the region is climbing, part of a concerning trend that\u2019s happening across the province.<\/p>\n

Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH), reported at the April 2 board meeting that there were six confirmed cases of measles in the health unit\u2019s region, \u201cplus a number under investigation. So there are likely more,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

By April 14 that number had risen to 14, communications specialist Danny Williams confirmed.<\/p>\n

Provincially, more than 800 cases of measles have been reported.<\/p>\n

Measles is a very contagious viral infection that spreads from person to person through airborne droplets (coughing, sneezing, etc.).<\/p>\n

The measles virus can be active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for as long as two hours.<\/p>\n

You can catch measles by being near an infected person, even if you\u2019re in the same room for a short period.<\/p>\n

Someone who is contagious with measles can spread it to others from four days before a rash appears to four days after the rash appears.<\/p>\n

Measles is most common in children but can affect anyone who is not immune.<\/p>\n

Symptoms include:<\/p>\n