Amidst the measles outbreak spreading over the United States, Toronto public health officials confirm that there are four measles cases in the city. Apparently, two children who are under two years old and two adults from different families got infected with the virus.
The public health officials are investigating the incident because all four patients came from different families and they suggest that the culprit in the infections may have spread the virus at different occasions. Up to date, the person who had spread the virus has not yet been identified.
Officials announced the incident in order to warn the public that measles might be circulating in the city because of the still unidentified person with the disease. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be spread through droplets in the air.
According to the World Health Organization, measles is one of the leading causes of deaths among children and infants. There is still no known treatment for measles but an effective measles vaccine is widely available to prevent contracting the potentially fatal virus. In 2013, there were 145, 700 measles deaths globally and that is about 400 deaths every day or 16 deaths every hour.
"At this point in the investigation, no source case has yet been identified and there are no known links or contact between the cases," health officials said in a statement Monday.
According to Dr. Neil Rau, infectious diseases specialist, those who are now infected with the virus likely came in contact with the same person who is carrying the virus. Perhaps the person is unaware that he is carrying the measles virus. Also, they are not removing the possibility that this person came from another country and entered Canada.
"When people from those countries arrive here, they won't necessarily have symptoms, they'll be incubating the disease, and they can be contagious four days before coming out with the rash," Rau told CTV News Channel on Monday..
Measles is characterized by symptoms of fever, cough, red eyes, colds and a rash which usually start in the face down to the extremities. If untreated, it can lead to serious complications including inflammation of the air passages that can lead to respiratory distress especially among children and infants.
The single most important way to prevent this infection is to get the measles vaccine.
