Thousands of travelers may have been exposed to measles at airport in Canada

Health officials issued a public alert Friday after confirming a measles case involving a traveller who was aboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight BG305 from Bangladesh to Toronto via Rome and Air Canada Flight AC1986 from Toronto to Moncton on July 7.

The exposure also includes Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga between 1:11 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. ET, meaning thousands of travellers passing through Canada’s busiest airport during that time could have been exposed.

Because the flights originated overseas and continued on to Atlantic Canada, the advisory could affect travellers from across Ontario and other parts of Canada who were at Pearson that day.

Peel Public Health is urging anyone who may have been exposed to check that they and their family members are up to date on their measles vaccinations.

Officials say people who are pregnant, have weakened immune systems or have infants younger than one year old should contact their local public health unit immediately to discuss whether preventive treatment is appropriate.

Anyone who develops symptoms should contact their health-care provider or local public health unit before seeking medical care and should avoid going to work or school.

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases and spreads easily among people who are not immunized or who have never had the illness.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, sensitivity to light and a red rash that begins on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.

Peel Public Health recommends anyone born in or after 1970 receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, unless otherwise advised by a health-care provider. In general, people born before 1970 are considered to have immunity because they were likely exposed to the virus during childhood.

For more information, residents can contact Peel Public Health or their local public health unit.