A case of measles in a child in Montreal has been identified as the Northeast US continues to develop

On Tuesday, officials were notified of a case of measles in a Montreal child.

According to the Montreal Public Health Organization, the infection may have been contracted during a trip to Africa and the infectious period is believed to have lasted from January 29 to February 6.

Back in Montreal, the boy went to school on January 29, went to a medical clinic on January 31, and visited two pediatric hospital emergency rooms between January 31 and February 2.

“All contacts in these environments are being contacted,” Public Health said in an email Wednesday.

No additional measles cases have been reported in Montreal since Tuesday.

The disease is highly contagious. Symptoms usually begin with a fever, cough, and runny nose, followed by a red rash a few days later.

Resurgence of measles

Dr. Earl Rubin is the director of pediatric infectious diseases at the Montreal Children's Hospital and said there has been a resurgence of measles around the world, particularly in the northeastern United States.

“It's likely a combination of people traveling internationally who are not immunized or coming from areas of the world where vaccination is poor, and measles continues to spread,” he said.

The MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, rubella and chickenpox, is usually given between 12 and 18 months and is 98% effective after two doses. In Quebec, the vaccine schedule is not mandatory, Rubin said.

Most of the reported cases in the U.S. have been unvaccinated children, Rubin added.

“So it's a big concern for people who are unvaccinated and have the disease and are at high risk of developing the disease,” he said. “Anyone of any age can have complications, but measles is more common in infants, immunocompromised people, and unvaccinated pregnant women.”

Rubin said that measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to man. Older studies, he said, were between someone who had been in the room after the infected person had left it an hour earlier.

“With better hospital construction, better ventilation, it might not be as long, but it's still a concern,” he said. “It's highly contagious. So, to answer your question, should people be concerned? Yes, if they haven't been vaccinated.”

According to Rubin, lockdown restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a drop in vaccinations due to lack of access to doctor's offices. In addition, vaccine skepticism has reduced their numbers.

“It's sad and disturbing,” he said. At the moment, we only have one case for my child from Africa, but because it is highly contagious, there is concern that we will see more cases.”

According to Canada's official immunization guidelines, one dose of measles vaccine in children aged 12 to 15 months is estimated to be 85-95% effective, and two doses are estimated to be nearly 100% effective.

Public health did not immediately confirm whether the infected child in Montreal had been vaccinated.