Canada: 11 measles cases reported in latest Quebec outbreak
Since the latest measles outbreak in Quebec began in December 2024, officials with the health Ministry have reported 11 confirmed cases of measles—Laurentides, Montréal and Laval.
The places and dates of possible exposure to a case of measles are listed on the Quebec Health Ministry website.
Quebec is facing its 2nd measles outbreak since the beginning of 2024. It started in December 2024 and is still active.
The first outbreak of 2024, with 51 cases, began in February 2024 and ended on June 5, 2024. A few sporadic cases were reported between the two outbreaks.
In 2024, Canada reported 147 measles cases across the country, the most in about a decade (2015-196 cases).
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Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. Measles is an airborne disease which spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
It may take 5 to 21 days (on average 10 to 14 days) between exposure to the measles virus and onset of symptoms. This is called the incubation period. A person begins to be contagious 4 days before the rash appears and can remain contagious up to 4 days after onset of the disease. Measles last 1 to 2 weeks.
The first symptoms of measles are the following: fever; nasal congestion with runny nose; cough; conjunctivitis (red watery eyes); eyes sensitive to light and general discomfort.
Subsequently, a rash develops on the face and then the body.
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Complications of measles may include: Ear infection (5 to 9% of cases); persistent diarrhea, especially in newborns; pneumonia (1 to 5% of cases); convulsions (the body stiffens and muscles contract in a jerky and involuntary manner); loss of sight or hearing; permanent brain damage (1 in 1,000) and death (1 in 3,000).
Children and adults who are sick should stay home from daycare centre, school and work and avoid being in contact with young children, people with weakened immune system and pregnant people. They should stay home until four days after the rash appears.
Vaccination is the best way to be protected against measles.