Measles has been confirmed on a plane that landed in Montreal

Quebec's Ministry of Health and public health authorities have confirmed that a person with measles was on board a plane that landed in Montreal from Turkey on April 3.

The man was aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK35, which landed at Pierre-Elio-Trudeau airport at 6 p.m.

Authorities said people on the flight may have contracted measles. Travelers or employees who were in the arrivals and baggage area at the airport between 6pm and 12.30pm on April 3 may also be affected.

The Quebec Public Health Organization considers them to be measles-related cases.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the respiratory tract, especially through the air. A single case can infect 16 unvaccinated people.

The best way to protect yourself is to get the measles vaccine.

According to the Quebec vaccination schedule, children receive the vaccine between 12 and 18 months of age.

Recently, however, low vaccination rates in schools have become a cause for public health concern, as Quebec is currently experiencing a measles outbreak.

As of April 10, there are 43 confirmed cases of measles since the beginning of 2024, mostly in the Montreal area.

A vaccinated person has a low chance of contracting the disease, but as a precaution, authorities advise people to watch for symptoms within a few days of exposure.

For those flying on Turkish Airlines flight TK35, public health is asking passengers and staff to monitor their symptoms until April 24.

The first symptoms of measles are fever, nasal congestion with runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and eyes that are sensitive to light. Later, rashes appear on the face and body.

If you have not been vaccinated and come into contact with measles, you must isolate yourself at home from the fifth day to the 14th day after exposure.

People are not contagious for the first four days after exposure.

– This La Presse Canadienne report was translated by CityNews

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