Ottawa Public Health alerting residents of measles exposure locations

Confirmed exposures in Lowertown and Old Ottawa West

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is investigating a cluster of confirmed measles infections, also known as cases, involving five Ottawa residents who are all related. OPH is directly notifying individuals who may have been exposed to the measles virus, where contact information is available. This public service announcement is intended to reach individuals who may have been exposed but could not be reached directly or whose contact information was incomplete or unavailable.

At this time, the risk to the general population remains low. So far in 2025, OPH has confirmed ten measles infections, or cases, in Ottawa residents.

Possible exposure locations

Individuals who visited the following locations in Ottawa, on the dates and times below, may have been exposed to the measles virus.

• St. Clement Parish at Saint Anne Church at 528 Old St. Patrick Street
• When: Sunday October 12 between 10:20 am and 2 pm
• Monitor until Sunday, November 2  
• St. George’s Parish at 415 Piccadilly Avenue
• When: Monday, September 29 to Thursday, October 2, daily between 9 am and noon
• Monitor until Thursday, October 23

Steps to take if exposed

Individuals who attended the above locations during the specified times may have been exposed to the measles virus and are asked to:

1. Monitor for symptoms for 21 days from your date of exposure, even if you are vaccinated.

• Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, white spots in the mouth, and red watery eyes that may be sensitive to light.
• Symptoms can appear up to 21 days after exposure but usually occur within seven to 12 days.    
• A few days after symptoms begin, a red rash usually develops that starts on the face and spreads down the body to the arms and legs. This rash usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms generally last from one to two weeks.
• If you develop symptoms, call your health care provider and notify them of your recent measles exposure. This will help to protect others and allow health care providers to prepare for your visit. If possible, wear a medical grade mask to the appointment. This applies to any medical facility, including your local emergency department. Defer any non-urgent medical appointments.
• If you do not have a health care provider, please visit Health811 or call 8-1-1 to connect with a registered nurse for free, secure and confidential health advice. This service is available 24/7 and available in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages.

2. Check your vaccination records for measles-containing vaccines and ensure you are protected.

• Measles is a vaccine preventable disease. The measles vaccine is typically noted as “MMR”, “MMRV” or “M” on records.
• Most children in Ontario receive two doses of measles vaccine by age seven based on the current routine vaccine schedule: one at 12 months of age and another between four to six years of age.  
• People born before 1970 likely had measles in the past and are generally considered immune (protected).  
• People born in, or after 1970, are considered fully protected from a known exposure to measles if they have had two doses of measles vaccine.  
• Check with your health care provider if you are unsure about your vaccination status.  
• Visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Measles to learn more about where to access measles-containing and other vaccines.

About Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory infection caused by the measles virus. The measles virus lives in the nose and throat of a person who is infected and can be spread through the air, including from breathing, coughing or sneezing, and can survive in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. The most effective way to protect yourself against measles is to ensure you and your family are vaccinated against the virus. You can learn more about routine measles vaccination in OPH’s Who needs a measles vaccine? resource (PDF) available in English, French, Arabic, Simplified Chinese and Somali.

Please note that this investigation is ongoing; new locations, dates and times may be added, modified or removed as the investigation continues. Ongoing updates will be posted at OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Measles. OPH also shares updates on its social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

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