Montreal hospital warns of possible measles exposure in late March

MONTREAL – A Montreal hospital is warning its patients and employees about possible measles exposure after one of its workers was found to have the virus.

The McGill University Health Centre says the employee worked at its Glen site during the contagion period, between March 23 and 27.

Infectious disease specialist Marie-Astrid Lefebvre says the employee had limited contact with patients and other workers and there’s currently no evidence the virus has spread.

But since measles is spread by air or by direct contact, the hospital is contacting everyone who was present in the same location as the employee during their shifts.

Other measles cases have been confirmed across Canada in recent weeks, including at least two in Ontario and 23 in British Columbia.

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and tiny white spots in the mouth, followed two to four days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body, arms and legs.