[ad_1]
FREDERICTON – Health officials in New Brunswick have confirmed another case of measles – bringing the total number of cases in the Saint John area to nine – and some officials predict the number could increase.
Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer for the province, said the last case was related to a previous infection at Kennebecasis Valley High School.
On Friday, public health officials issued a directive asking staff and high school students to receive a booster shot for measles if they want to continue working and studying at school.
On Monday, more than 950 students and staff had received the vaccine, which was still available for the last few people who had not received it.
District school officials canceled a number of planned out-of-province clbad trips to two other schools in the district following the measles outbreak.
"Given the long incubation period of the measles virus and the belief that other cases of measles could possibly be confirmed in the coming days, it was decided not to take unnecessary risk said District Communications Director Jessica Hanlon in an e-mail. .
"Our biggest concern would be that a student can begin to exhibit symptoms during his trip, away from home and his usual health care provider, as well as in a neighborhood very close to his clbadmates."
The first symptoms of the virus may include fever, cough or tiny white spots in the mouth.
Three to seven days later, a red rash appears, first on the face, then on the body, arms and legs.
Dr. Serge Melanson, an emergency physician in Moncton and president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, said he was not surprised by the number of cases. He believes the total could increase.
"Given the infectiousness and the ease of spread of this virus, it is not surprising that we are at nine, and this despite public health and regional health authorities who have done an exceptional job – providing much information about what to do and how to contain it and urge people to get vaccinated, "he said Tuesday.
"His incubation period is very long, which means that people can feel relatively well for a good week or two weeks before presenting their symptoms, which means that they have a lot of trouble." opportunities to pbad it on to other people, "said Melanson.
Education Minister Dominic Cardy said he did not rule out mandatory immunization of teachers and school staff in the province. Russell was asked if she thought it was necessary, but she said that during an outbreak, it was not the time to start this debate.
On Friday, lawmakers from neighboring Maine enacted a law that eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations in the state. Maine has one of the highest rates of exemptions for non-medical vaccines in the United States.
Melanson said he was not ready to do the same in New Brunswick.
"I will leave these political debates to those who will draft these laws, but I will say that there is little scientific doubt that the simplest, safest and safest way to prevent the spread of these communicable diseases is vaccination, "he said.
"What the medical community can do best, I think, is trying to dispel some of the messages circulating in the community, on social media and on other platforms that promote hesitancy to vaccination. ".
The measles virus is transmitted by air or direct contact with an infected person. Measles can be more serious in adults and infants and can lead to complications.
Source link
