Possible measles exposure at MUHC Glen (adult) Site

MONTREAL — The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) was notified by the Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal late Friday that an employee having contracted the measles virus worked at the Glen Site while contagious, between March 23 and March 27.

The MUHC is now in the process of identifying and informing all patients and personnel who worked in or visited the following locations during the hours specified below that they may have been exposed to the measles virus:  

The measles virus is transmitted through the air or by direct contact (face to face) with an infected person, so if you were present at one of the locations and periods listed above between March 23 and March 27 (regardless of the length of time spent at the location), you may have been exposed to measles.

“Though the employee in question had limited contact with patients and staff during the incubation period, it is vital that we take all necessary measures to ensure the disease is not spread further within the MUHC,” said Dr. Marie-Astrid Lefebvre, MUHC Infectious Diseases Specialist. “For the moment, there is no evidence that the disease has been transmitted to other people, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely until the end of the incubation period. In addition, we are reassured that the vast majority of people exposed are most likely immune to the measles virus.”

The MUHC advises all individuals who were present at these locations, at the times listed above to first check their immunization status. You are considered protected against measles if:

• You were born before 1970
• You were born in or after 1980 and you Have written proof that you have received two doses of the measles vaccine (MMR)*  
• You were born between 1970 and 1979 and you have written proof that you have received 1 dose of measles vaccine (MMR), except for pregnant women (for whom two doses are required) OR
• You have a medical attestation that you had the disease before January 1, 1996

* Vaccine doses must have been received at 1 year of age or older with a minimum interval of 4 weeks between doses

If you are immune, you have nothing else to do.

If you are not immune, cannot confirm your immunity AND you are a patient of the MUHC, please contact us at 514-934-8007 and leave us your name, phone number, health insurance card number and hospital card number. A nurse will contact you within 24 to 48 hours for a follow-up. In the meantime, in case you are contagious, we ask you to isolate yourself by staying at your home and avoiding contact with infants younger than 12 months, pregnant women and individuals with a weakened immune system.

If you have been present at the times indicated above, but are not a MUHC patient, please contact Info-Santé 811.

Symptoms of measles are the following: fever, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, red and watery eyes, and tiny white spots in the mouth. Two to four days after the onset of symptoms, a rash including pimples and red spots appears, first on the face, then on the trunk, arms and legs, for three to seven days. Measles can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Complications are more common in people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and children under one year of age. In pregnant women, measles can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight babies.

For additional information on measles and immunization, we invite you to visit the page about the disease in the Quebec.ca website: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/measles/.

About the McGill University Health Centre

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is one of the world’s foremost academic health facilities. Building on the tradition of medical leadership of its founding hospitals, the MUHC provides exceptional multidisciplinary patient-centric care. Affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University, the MUHC continues to shape the course of adult and pediatric medicine by attracting clinical and research expertise from around the world, assessing the latest in medical technology, and training the next generation of medical professionals. In collaboration with our network partners, we are building a better future for our patients and their families; for our employees, professionals, researchers and students; for our community and above all, for life www.muhc.ca.

For media enquiries only
Gilda Salomone
Coordinator – Media relations
McGill University Health Centre
C. 514-377-4996
[email protected]