There hasn’t been a new case of measles confirmed in the South East Health Unit area – which includes Quinte – in three weeks, says public health.
As the board of health met in Belleville for its regular monthly meeting, Dr. Ethan Toumishey, deputy medical officer of health, delivered an update on the pan-Canadian measles outbreak, and confirmed no new local cases in the region.
“This is positive news and means that it’s unlikely that there is ongoing community transmission in the area,” explained Toumishey.
Toumishey’s update also touched on the more than 1,620 cases in Ontario (as of May 15 data), and 80 cases confirmed so far in the SEHU region.
Public health leaders like Toumishey continue to echo the importance of vaccinations as the best form of protection against measles, saying the jabs are safe and effective in preventing the spread of disease in the community.
Of the cases in the SEHU region, 78 of the infected individuals were unvaccinated, added Toumishey.
Vaccination efforts continue across the region, and Toumishey noted that longer-term efforts by the provincial government, such as the funding and implementation of a provincial immunization registry, as recommended by the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee, could further strengthen local immunization efforts.
Hastings-Prince Edward residents looking to learn more about measles, where to get vaccinations, et cetera, can visit the health unit online.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
