Local man in mid-30s diagnosed with measles, health officials say

As measles cases in the region and across the country surge, London's health unit has recorded its first lab-confirmed case of the highly contagious virus. 

A man in his mid-30s has been confirmed to have the illness, said Dr. Alex Summers, the medical officer of health for the Middlesex-London health Unit. He was exposed to measles outside of this immediate region, he added. 

"We received that report over the weekend and have been able to follow up with all exposed individuals to make sure that they're notified and taking appropriate precautions." 

The man said he was vaccinated against the measles when he was younger, but doesn't have vaccination records so health officials are still working to verify that information, Summers said. 

"Over 90 per cent of the cases of measles in southwestern Ontario have been amongst people who are unvaccinated. We will see periodic and sporadic cases even amongst those that are vaccinated but that represents a small number of people in the big scheme of things," he added. 

Measles can be fairly mild if a person is over the age of five and not otherwise immunocompromised, such as the local case, Summers said. "Complications of measles can happen in children under five or for those who are immunocompromised. That's where we see more severe things that can lead to people being in hospital." 

This is the Middlesex-London Health Unit's first case of lab-confirmed measles since March 2024. Other regions, including Norfolk, Elgin and Oxford counties, have had hundreds of cases in the last few months, most in unvaccinated children.

"Measles is a remarkably contagious virus. If somebody is infected with measles, nine out of ten people around them will become infected with the virus unless they are protected through things like vaccination," Summers said.

"It's tremendously contagious, which is why it moves like wildfire through susceptible populations, and that's why we're seeing outbreaks in southwestern Ontario. The good news is that we have a very, very high measles vaccination coverage rate in Middlesex-London." 

Two doses of the measles vaccine, listed as MMR or MMRV in most health records, provides nearly 100 per cent immunity from the highly contagious virus. 

Symptoms of measles may include:

• Fever, cough and runny nose • Red and irritated eyes • Small white, grey or blue spots in the mouth • Red, blotchy rash (which is the last symptom to appear) The Health Unit asks that anyone who thinks they have measles isolate at home to avoid spreading the virus to others.

If medical care is required, people are asked to call ahead so health providers can take the necessary precautions in place.