There have been no measles cases reported in Windsor-Essex this year, but a local health official says it’s only a matter of time.
There have been 10 cases in Quebec and now in the last two weeks, eight cases of confirmed in Ontario.
Precautions are in place for the WIndsor area, says Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj.
"It's just like influenza at the start of the year. It's all around us,” says Musyj.
Musyj says even though Windsor and Essex County haven't had reported cases of measles, the area has experienced a couple of close calls.
"We had some possible cases that looked like measles when they came in but measles were ruled out," he says.
The question is, should Windsorites be worried?
Ontario's health minister, as well as the chief medical officer of health issued a joint statement on measles in Ontario on Wednesday.
"We are urging Ontarians to ensure all their immunizations for measles and those of their children are up-to-date, not only to protect them from this disease, but those around them. Parents who do not get their kids immunized are putting other children at risk," said the release.
Health officials say there is a surveillance program in place at Windsor Regional Hospital. If a child or an adult is showing of measles, they will be segregated while being treated.
"The last thing we want to do is have a patient with measles come into the hospital and somehow we spread it," says Musyj.
Health officials say while risk to the general public is low, measles can be highly contagious and can be spread through the air from person to person, through coughing or sneezing. That is why Musyj says it's not a matter of if we get a case of measles in our region but when.
"Unfortunately it's just a matter of time before we see our first cases in Windsor," says Musyj.
