Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is alerting residents to possible measles exposure at several Ottawa businesses, including a Tim Hortons, two stores in the same St. Laurent Boulevard location, a Metro supermarket, a restaurant on York Street and a Subway. The exposures date to Thursday, Oct. 1, and Friday, Oct. 2.
If you were at any of these places at the times listed below, here is what the health unit is asking you to do.
The locations and times
OPH lists the following possible exposure sites:
- Tim Hortons, 3224 Hawthorne Rd.: Thursday, Oct. 1, between 5:30 and 8 p.m.
- Your Independent Grocer, 1910 St. Laurent Blvd.: Friday, Oct. 2, between 3:15 and 5:45 p.m.
- Rexall Drugstore, 1910 St. Laurent Blvd.: Friday, Oct. 2, between 3:45 and 6 p.m.
- Metro Supermarket, 2261 Walkley Rd.: Friday, Oct. 2, between 4 and 6:15 p.m.
- Ruby's Restaurant, 10 York St.: Friday, Oct. 2, between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
- Subway, 3190 Hawthorne Rd.: Friday, Oct. 2, between 5:30 and 8 p.m.
The Independent Grocer and the Rexall Drugstore share the same address on St. Laurent Boulevard, and the Tim Hortons and the Subway are both on Hawthorne Road. Anyone who passed through more than one of these places on those days should check each time window separately.
What OPH is investigating
OPH says it is investigating confirmed measles infections in two Ottawa residents who had known exposure to measles outside Ontario. The sources do not say which of the businesses above, if any, are tied to a particular case, and they do not give further details about the two people.
The health unit also stresses that the situation is not a reason for broad alarm. In its words, "At this time, the risk to the general population remains low."
What to do if you were there
People who visited any of the locations during the listed times are advised to monitor for symptoms for 21 days from the date of exposure, even if they are vaccinated. For a visit on Oct. 1, that watch period starts on that date. For a visit on Oct. 2, it starts a day later.
OPH lists these symptoms:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- White spots in the mouth
- Red, watery eyes
The sources do not include OPH's full instructions on who to call or how to seek care if symptoms appear.
What we do not know yet
The notices list only the places and times above. They do not say how many people may have been exposed at each location, whether more sites will be added, or whether any further cases have been identified beyond the two confirmed infections. If OPH updates its list, ottown will update this story.
Sources: CP24, Ottawa Citizen (via Yahoo News Canada)
