Measles

View all recent known measles exposures and timelines below, as well as a risk assessment tool to help you determine what actions to take if you were exposed. Always call ahead before seeking a medical assessment by a healthcare provider if your measles symptoms cannot be managed at home.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious virus. It spreads easily through the air when someone with measles breathes, coughs, or sneezes.

Measles is a reportable disease of public health significance that can result in complications such as diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia. Rarely, measles can cause brain infections and death. 

Check or update your immunization record to make sure you and your family are up-to-date with vaccinations.

Measles exposure risk assessment

Click the red button to begin the assessment

Exposure Risk Assessment

Measles expsoures

If you were present at the below locations during the timelines shown, you may have been exposed to measles. 

Woodstock Hospital - Emergency Department

310 Juliana Drive, Woodstock

  • January 15, 2025 - 9:30 PM to 1:44AM on January 16, 2025 
  • January 27, 2025 - 10:41 AM to 1:15 PM
  • February 16, 2025 - 8:01 PM to 10:08 PM
  • February 17, 2025 - 10:38 PM to 1:47 AM on February 18
  • February 21, 2025 - 10:43 AM to 1:26 PM
  • February 23, 2025 - 8:20 PM to 10:30 PM
  • February 27, 2025 - 6:14 AM to 8:23 AM

Alexandra Hospital - Emergency Department

29 Noxon Street, Ingersoll

  • January 17, 2025 - 11:57 PM to 2:13 AM on January 18, 2025
  • February 21, 2025 - 8:53 PM to 11:05 PM

Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital - Emergency Department

167 Rolph Street, Tillsonburg

  • January 25, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • January 26, 2025 - 10:37 PM to 12:45 AM on January 27, 2025
  • January 27, 2025 - 10:00 PM to 12:15 AM on January 28, 2025

Tillsonburg Medical Centre

 200 Broadway Street, Tillsonburg

  • February 25, 2025, 1:30 PM to 4:12 PM

St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital - Emergency Department

189 Elm Street, St. Thomas

  • January 26, 2025 - 4:30 PM to 6:52 PM
  • February 6, 2025 - 11:19 PM to 5:00 AM on February 7, 2025 
  • February 9, 2025 - 5:00 AM to 10:45 AM
  • February 16, 2025 - 5:00 PM to 7:26 PM 
  • February 17, 2025 - 9:20 PM to 11:47 PM
  • February 19, 2025 - 12:55 PM to 3:25 PM

St. Thomas Walk-In Clinic

230 First Ave #105, St. Thomas, Ontario

  • February 7, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  • February 8, 2025 - 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM
  • February 9, 2025 - 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Remedy's Rx - Health Centre Pharmacy Inc.

230 First Ave, St. Thomas, Ontario

  • February 8, 2025 - 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

19 King St. E, Ingersoll, Ontario

  • February 5, 2025 - 1:45 PM to 4:15 PM

Aylmer LifeLabs

424 Talbot St. W, Aylmer, Ontario

  • February 10, 2025 - 10:30 AM to 2:15 PM

LifeLabs Woodstock

510 Ingersoll Ave, Suite 205, Woodstock, Ontario

  • February 12, 2025 - 10:11 AM to 12:35 PM

East Elgin Community Complex 

531 Talbot St W, Aylmer, Ontario

  • February 15, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • February 17, 2025 - 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

RBC Royal Bank 

121 Broadway Street, Tillsonburg, Ontario

  • February 18, 19, and 20, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM

If you were born in 1970 or later, and are not up-to-date with your vaccinations, please call public health at 1-800-922-0096 ext. 1232. This includes those who were only there briefly on the dates and times shown.

A public exposure notice is issued when we are not confident that we can reach everyone who may have been exposed to measles in each situation. Public exposure notices are not required in situations when we are confident we have informed everyone who may have been exposed to measles. Read our news updates for more information.

What should you do if you were exposed to measles? 

Check immunization records

Make sure you and your family are up to date with measles vaccines (MMR or MMRV).

  • Most people need two doses if born in 1970 or later
  • People born before 1970 are usually considered protected
  • Check your immunization records or ask your health care provider to confirm

Watch for symptoms

Measles symptoms can appear up to 21 days after exposure. Even if you are vaccinated, stay alert for:

  • Fever
  • Cough, runny nose, red eyes
  • Rash that starts on the face and spreads

If you are not vaccinated, avoid contact with:

  • Pregnant individuals
  • Young children
  • People with weakened immune systems

Call before visiting a health care setting

If you think you have measles, were exposed, or are a close contact, call before visiting a doctor, hospital, clinic or any other health care setting. This helps protect others and allows health care providers to prepare for your visit.

How do I book a vaccine appointment?

  • Generally, adults born before 1970 are protected, however, some exceptions are people who work in healthcare or are members of the military
  • For those born after 1970, two doses of the measles vaccine provide up to 99 per cent lifelong protection
  • Children typically receive a first dose at the age of 1 and a second dose between 4 and 6 years old Don’t delay the second dose if your child is already 4

During an outbreak

  • During an outbreak, the second dose of vaccine can be given as early as one month after the first and should be no later than four for those who live, play, travel to, or worship to an area with known measles risks
  • Parents are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about getting a first dose of measles-containing vaccine between 6-11 months to protect infants earlier
  • Two additional doses of measles-containing vaccine will still be required after the age of one, but this earlier dose can help infants be greater protected against the health impacts of a measles infection
  • This is especially important if you live, play, travel to, or worship in an area with known measles risks

Book a vaccine appointment

Frequently asked questions

Measles symptoms start 7 to 14 days after you are exposed to the virus. The main signs include:

  • High fever

  • Cough

  • Runny nose

  • Red, watery eyes

  • Red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body

Complications can include:

  • Diarrhea

  • Ear infections

  • Pneumonia (lung infection)

Rare but serious complications:

  • Brain infection (encephalitis)

  • Death

Measles spreads when:

  • You breathe air where an infected person has coughed or sneezed

  • You touch a surface with the virus on it and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth

  • The virus can live in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours

  • You can spread measles to others four days before the rash starts and until four days after the rash starts

  1. Get vaccinated: The best way to protect yourself is to get two doses of the measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV)

  2. Wash your hands often with soap and water

  3. Stay home if you feel sick

  4. Avoid crowds during a measles outbreak

If you think you have measles:

  1. Stay home and avoid contact with others. Learn more about isolation guidelines.

  2. Call ahead before you visit a doctor, clinic, or hospital so they can prepare for your arrival and prevent virus spread.

  3. Wear a mask if you need to go out for medical care. Check that you are wearing a high quality mask.

Measles is diagnosed through laboratory tests. These tests may include:

  • A swab of your nose or throat (nasopharyngeal or throat swab)

  • A urine sample

  • A blood test

There is no specific medicine to treat measles. Most people get better at home with rest and fluids.

Some people may need to go to the hospital if they get very sick.

 Measles vaccination is the best protection to prevent an infection.

You are at risk if:

  • You have not had two doses of the measles vaccine

  • You have never had measles before

The high-risk groups are:

  • Babies under 12 months old

  • Pregnant people

  • People with weak immune systems

If you’re not sure about your vaccine history, check your immunization record or talk to your health care provider.

There are two vaccines:

  1. MMR – Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella

  2. MMRV – Protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox

The first dose (MMR) is given soon after the first birthday, and the second dose (MMRV) is given at 4 to 6 years of age.

Outbreak note: Infants ages 6-11 months of age who live, play, travel to, worship in, or otherwise in the Southwestern Public Health or the Grand Erie Public Health region may be given an early dose of MMR vaccine. Two additional doses of measles-containing vaccine will still be required after the age of one year of age.

Contact Us

Southwestern Public Health (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday)

St. Thomas Site
(Administrative office)
1230 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1G9

Woodstock Site
410 Buller Street
Woodstock, ON N4S 4N2

Call us toll free: 1-800-922-0096
Email us

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