Southeast Public Health is alerting Kingston residents to potential measles exposures at three local venues due to a confirmed case of the highly contagious virus. Officials are advising individuals to review their vaccination records.
The identified potential exposure sites and times are: GoodLife Fitness (64 Barrack St.) on Feb. 9 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Queen’s University Kingston Hall (103 Stuart St.) on Feb. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Metro (310 Barrie St.) on Feb. 13 from 4:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Individuals who visited these locations during the specified periods should confirm their immunization status, generally requiring two measles vaccine doses or lab-confirmed immunity. Those born before 1970 are presumed immune. Unvaccinated individuals or those with one dose are instructed to isolate for 21 days post-exposure and contact public health. Even vaccinated individuals should monitor for symptoms, which typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and rash. Those experiencing symptoms should stay home and call ahead to healthcare providers to prevent further spread. Measles is an airborne virus, posing higher risks to infants, pregnant individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.