Despite being exceptionally rare in Canada over the last 15 years, Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health says the exposure risk for measles has recently increased in the province.

“We used to get no cases for several years or just one case [which was] always acquired due to international travel because measles is, unfortunately, more common in other parts of the world,” explained Dr. Saqib Shahab, Chief Medical Health Officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

People across the country, and Saskatchewan are coming across the highly contagious viral infection due to declining vaccination rates and international travel, according to the SHA.

As a result, health experts are encouraging both adults and children to seek protection.

“Vaccine is the most important because this is so transmittable. If you are unvaccinated and develop measles, you’re infectious even before you develop symptoms and rashes,” Shahab explained.

He added that it can take up to 21 days for people to see symptoms which include a fever, a runny nose, a cough, red eyes, and a rash.

In late March, the SHA issued an advisory to schools in Regina informing parents about the increase of measle cases and urged them to take preventive measures.

“[Measles] can affect all ages, but tends to be more severe in adults and very young children. Contracting measles during pregnancy can be harmful to the baby,” the advisory read.

“Children should get two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, such as the Measles-Mumps-Rubella Varicella (MMRV) vaccine. In Saskatchewan, the first dose is given at 12 months of age and a second dose at 18 months of age.”

If unvaccinated, Dr. Shahab said children are advised not to attend school until the infection has passed.

“If a child who develops measles in a daycare or in the school you have to isolate them for up to four days after the onset of the rash and then you could go back to school,” he explained.

“But, if you’re unvaccinated and you have a case of measles in school, you have to stay at home for 28 days. If there’s another case, you have to stay at home for another 28 days. This can be really disruptive.”

Shahab added that people born after 1970 who have received two doses of the measles-containing vaccine, such as the Measles-Mumps-Rubella Varicella (MMRV) vaccine, are highly unlikely to get measles.