A growing measles outbreak in the Laurentians has public health officials on high alert, urging residents to check their vaccination status as cases continue to climb. Since mid-December, 17 cases have been confirmed, including five unvaccinated children between the ages of 1 and 14 infected since the start of February. The outbreak has spread to multiple schools and even reached post-secondary institutions, heightening concerns about further transmission.
Health authorities are now making a strong appeal to parents of school-aged children and those frequenting daycares, schools, and universities to ensure they are adequately protected against the highly contagious virus. They are directing residents to verify their immunization records on Québec.ca/rougeole to curb the spread.
Temporary Bans for the Unvaccinated
In a bid to contain the outbreak, the Public Health Department for the Laurentians has begun checking vaccination records at schools and daycares where cases have emerged. Those without adequate protection may face temporary bans from these settings—a measure officials say is necessary to safeguard unvaccinated individuals and prevent further transmission. In some cases, getting vaccinated promptly could help avoid exclusion, health experts noted.
How to Get Vaccinated
Vaccines are being offered for free at local health service points throughout the region. Appointments can be made online via www.clicsante.ca or by phone at 1-877-644-4545. According to Quebec’s vaccination schedule, children are supposed to receive the measles vaccine at 12 and 18 months. However, anyone born after 1970 who has never been vaccinated or had the disease can still get the shot for free. Those born before 1970 are generally considered immune.
Lingering Concerns and Preventive Measures
The Public Health Department has also published a list of exposure sites and dates on Québec.ca/rougeole. People who were at these locations and are not vaccinated are being urged to self-isolate immediately. Vulnerable groups, including infants, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems, are advised to call Info-Santé at 811 for guidance. Preventive treatments may be available to reduce the risk of severe complications.
The symptoms of measles are unmistakable and can appear up to 21 days after exposure: fever, nasal congestion, cough, red and watery eyes, light sensitivity, and a general feeling of malaise. Typically, a red rash follows, starting on the face and spreading to the body.
For those already showing symptoms, the message is clear—stay home. Public health officials recommend wearing a mask if you need to visit a doctor, avoiding public transit, and calling ahead to alert healthcare providers about your symptoms.
A Preventable Crisis
Public health officials are stressing that the outbreak was preventable. Vaccination remains the most effective way to stop measles in its tracks, and they are urging residents not to wait for more cases to emerge. “Measles is one of the most contagious viruses out there, but it’s also one of the most preventable,” a spokesperson said. “We have the tools to stop this—it’s just a matter of using them.”
As the outbreak unfolds, all eyes are on the region’s vaccination clinics, where the lines have started to grow—a sign that, perhaps belatedly, the message is getting through.
