Public Health Update for Clinicians: Updated Measles Resources

Alert Date
Location
Windsor-Essex County

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit would like to bring to your attention PHO’s updated Measles Information for HCP  regarding N95 mask and health care workers (HCW) requiring all HCWs regardless of presumptive immunity to measles to wear a fit-tested, seal-checked N95 respirator when providing care to a client with suspect or confirmed measles. Please refer to the newly updated Clinical Office Checklist for Measles for additional information.

Differential Diagnosis Considerations

As a reminder, clinicians are strongly encouraged to consider measles as part of the differential diagnosis for those symptomatic individuals who have travelled internationally or are newcomers to Canada who present with respiratory symptoms post travel and are not immunized for measles.

It is essential to complete ALL of the following tests to confirm diagnosis:

  • Nasopharyngeal swab/aspirate or throat swab for PCR
  • Blood specimen for serology
  • Clean catch urine for PCR 

Duty to Report

Timely reporting of communicable diseases is essential for their control. Clinicians are required to report all diseases of public health significance (DOPHS) as per the requirements in accordance with Ontario Reg 135/18 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990. Refer to the DOPHS List for all reporting requirements. Reporting forms are available on the WECHU website (www.wechu.org/forms). Reporting forms should be filled out completely and faxed to 226-783-2132.
 
For questions or concerns, please call 519-258-2146 ext. 1420 during regular office hours, and 519-973-4510 during after-hours and weekends.  For more information, visit:

  1. OCFP Measles Resource
  2. Measles: For health professionals (PHAC)
  3. Appendix 1: Case Definitions and Disease Specific Information: Measles
  4. Vaccine Preventable Disease: Surveillance Report to December 31, 2019: Measles (PHAC)
  5. Measles vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide (PHAC)
  6. DOPHS List
  7. Interim IPAC Recommendations and Use of PPE for Care of Individuals with Suspect or Confirmed Measles (PHO)