3rd measles case confirmed in Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health is confirming a third case of measles in the city.

The latest patient is not connected to two other casesfromearlier this year.But like the others, it may have beencontracted duringinternational travel, the health agency said.

The health agency is warning people who may have been in any of the following locations atthe following times to check their vaccination records and watch for symptoms:

• May 14 from7a.m. to 11:30 a.m. atDovercourt Recreation Centre.
• May 14 from10a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Prosol Inc., 1153 Newmarket St.
• May 16 from7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Dovercourt Recreation Centre.
• May 18 from8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Shoppers Drug Mart, 3151 Strandherd Dr. (the intersection of WoodroffeAvenueandStrandherdDrive).
• May 19 from 8 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. atShoppers Drug Mart, 3151 Strandherd Dr.
• May 19 from1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Queensway Carleton Hospital Emergency Department.

Pregnant women who have not received two doses of the vaccine, people with weakened immune systems and anyone caring for an infant under one year of age should contact their doctor or Ottawa Public Health to discuss next steps.

Anyone else should check their immunization records to see if they have been vaccinated.

Measles is highly contagious. Symptoms generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure and include a high fever, runny nose, coughing, irritability and red eyes. Small white spots can appear in the mouth and throat and three to seven days after symptoms appear people can experience a red blotchy rash.

1st and 2nd cases confirmed last month

It began on April 3, when the city confirmed the first case of the measles. OPH officials said aman contracted the highly contagious disease while travelling abroad.

Days later, on April 7, a second case of measles was confirmed in Ottawacompletely unrelated to the first case.

A woman had contracted the disease while also travelling abroad. She later identified herself as36-year-old Jayda Kelsall, and said she got the measlesin the U.K., despite having been vaccinated, due to a weakened immune system.

Kelsallsaid she doesn't understand the anti-vaxxerswho believe misinformation about the vaccine's side effects and choose not to vaccinate themselves or their children.

"It makes me really angry," she said. "It's so preventable. It's something that nobody has to get anymore."