Measles (Red Measles)

⚠ Latest news

  • Public notifications of potential measles exposure: October 21 and October 29, 2025
  • Learn what to do if you have been potentially exposed to measles.
  • If we believe you may have been exposed to measles, and we have your contact information, we will contact you directly using automated phone messaging, or SMS/text or send you a letter. To protect the privacy of individuals involved, OPH takes every step to notify contacts directly. In the event that OPH is unable to identify or notify contacts of a potential exposure, a public service announcement may be issued to notify the public about potential exposure sites.

Current situation

  • Measles activity increased at the international level in 2024, and a multijurisdictional outbreak affected some regions of Ontario and several other provinces. The outbreak was declared over in Ontario in October 2025. 
  • Ottawa Public Health has recently identified a cluster of confirmed measles infections among Ottawa residents. So far in 2025, a total of 12 measles infections (cases) have been confirmed in Ottawa residents. At this time, the risk to the general population continues to remain low in Ottawa.
  • For residents traveling internationally, or to areas where there is a higher risk of exposure to measles due to ongoing outbreaks – please view recommendations.
  • Public Health Ontario (PHO) reports on the number of confirmed measles infections (cases) in Ontario. The latest information on measles activity in Ontario can be found on their website.  

What is measles?

  • Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by the measles virus. It is contagious from 4 days before the rash starts to 4 days after the rash starts. Symptoms of measles can develop 7 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. The measles virus lives in the nose and throat of a person who is infected and can be spread through the air (from breathing, coughing, or sneezing). The measles virus can live in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours.
  • Severe complications, while rare, include respiratory failure, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death. People at greatest risk for complications related to measles are unvaccinated infants, unvaccinated pregnant people, and people who are immunocompromised. Around 9 out of 10 people who are not fully protected against measles will become infected following close contact with a person who is infected with measles. 
  • The measles is vaccine is combined with the vaccine for mumps and rubella and is known as the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine can also be combined with the varicella vaccine (MMR-V) for some populations. MMR and MMR-V are very safe vaccines and very effective against measles. Two doses of measles vaccination are 99% effective at preventing infection in children. 

Possible measles exposures in Ottawa

⚠Ottawa Public Health is alerting the community to the possibility of measles exposures at the following dates, times and locations: 

Location Name 

Address 

Date 

Start Time 

End Time 

Monitor symptoms until 

St. Clement Parish at Saint Anne Church 

528 Old St. Patrick Street 

October 12, 2025 

10:20 am 

2 pm 

Monitor until Sunday, November 2 

St. George’s Parish 

415 Piccadilly Avenue 

September 29, 2025 to October 2, 2025 

9 am 

noon 

Monitor until Thursday, October 23 

 

IKEA 

 

2685 Iris Street  

 October 18, 2025 

 11:30 am 

 1:45 pm 

Monitor until Saturday, November 8  

Real Canadian Superstore 

190 Richmond Road 

October 18, 2025 

 

10 am 

1:30 pm  

Monitor until Saturday, November 8  

Real Canadian Superstore 

190 Richmond Road 

October 22, 2025 

4 pm 

7:30 pm 

Monitor until Wednesday, November 12  

Real Canadian Superstore 

190 Richmond Road 

October 23, 2025 

4:55 pm 

7:30 pm  

Monitor until Thursday, November 13  

Food Basics 

667 Kirkwood Avenue 

October 18, 2025 

Noon 

2:15 pm 

Monitor until Saturday, November 8  

Shoppers Drug Mart 

1309 Carling Avenue 

October 22, 2025 

5:45 pm 

8 pm 

Monitor until Wednesday, November 12  

Please note:  The above list only includes locations where Ottawa Public Health cannot directly reach potentially exposed individuals due to a lack of contact information or other means of direct communication. 

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. Pre-rash symptoms of the measles can look just like the common cold. 
  • 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.  
  • If you develop symptoms of measles, do not attend work or school. Reschedule 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.    

Travel

Individuals traveling to areas where measles is spreading should make sure their vaccinations are up to date. Talk to a health care provider at least 6 weeks or as early as possible before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

See Travel Health Notices for information on international measles activity.   

Vaccination 

Vaccination for infants and children 

Infants

In Ontario infants 6 to 11 months of age do not routinely get a dose of the MMR vaccine, but should get a dose of MMR if they are travelling to an area with increased measles activity. Ottawa is not currently considered an area of higher risk.

Children

Children should get two doses of the measles vaccine – a dose of MMR vaccine at 1 year of age (12 months) and a dose of MMRV vaccine between 4 and 6 years of age (preferably prior to school entry).

For infants who have not yet received a dose of a measles-containing, please see measles vaccination and travel.

Where to get vaccinated (infant and children)

  • Primary healthcare providers and walk-in clinics offer routine vaccines. Call ahead to make sure that the vaccine is available. Pharmacies do not provide routine vaccines, like measles-containing vaccines.
  • Visit our Parenting in Ottawa webpage to see other options, including options for families facing barriers to access.
  • Parents and guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s vaccines to Ottawa Public Health (OPH). Healthcare providers do not report vaccinations to OPH.

Ways to report your vaccination record (immunization record) to Ottawa Public Health (OPH):

Vaccination for adults
  • Individuals who received doses according to Ontario’s immunization schedule, would have generally received:
    • one dose of measles-containing vaccine, if born from 1967 to 1976
    • two doses of measles-containing vaccine, if born on or after 1977
  • Adults born before 1970 are generally presumed to have acquired immunity from past exposure to the measles virus. However, some remain susceptible and should be immunized if they are unsure if they had measles or the vaccine.
    • A one-time dose of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine is publicly funded (no cost) for this age group (those born before 1970) through a healthcare provider which is strongly recommended for travelers to destinations outside of Canada and students in post-secondary educational settings.
  • Healthcare workers and military personnel are recommended to receive two doses of measles-containing vaccine regardless of year of birth.

Where to get vaccinated (adults)

  • Primary health care providers play a key role in supporting their patients in remaining up-to date with their vaccines, especially in advance of any upcoming travel.
  • Adults who do not have access to a primary care provider may get vaccinated at a walk-in clinic or consider getting vaccinated at a travel clinic. To find a travel clinic or walk-in clinic in your area, visit health811.ontario.ca or call 8-1-1 to find a service near you.

Unsure of your vaccination status?


A picture of Ontario's Personal Immunization RecordFor infants and children – please visit “Updating and retrieving your immunization record” on our Parenting in Ottawa immunization webpage

For adults – please visit “How do I get my immunization record” on our Adult Immunization webpage.

 

What is Ottawa Public Health’s role?

To minimize the risk of infectious disease in our community, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) routinely conducts case and contact management relating to reports of infectious diseases and outbreaks as outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Infectious Diseases Protocol. When OPH receives a report of a suspected or confirmed infectious disease of public health importance, such as measles, our team initiates an investigation in accordance with the Ministry’s protocol.  Investigations can be complex and typically include a thorough assessment of the risk to the public through client interviews, risk assessment of exposure locations, contact tracing, and determining steps to reduce further transmission of the infection.

To protect the privacy of individuals involved, OPH takes every step to notify contacts directly. In the event that OPH is unable to identify or notify contacts of a potential exposure, a public service announcement may be issued.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reviews immunization records of children attending school or licensed child care centres in Ottawa to ensure that the information is up to date. For the 2025-2026 school year, Ottawa Public Health is sending notifications of incomplete immunizations to students born in 2008 and 2018. This is crucial to protect the health of children during a vaccine preventable disease outbreak, such as measles.

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