It’s only a matter of time before measles spreads to P.E.I., the province’s chief public health officer predicts.
The last two cases on the Island were in 2013, but with cases popping up across North America, Dr. Heather Morrison expects the virus to return to P.E.I. after families return from March Break travel.
“I do think that really it may be a matter of when and not if a case of measles infection comes to Prince Edward Island.”
Morrison said it’s unlikely there will be an outbreak, given P.E.I.’s high rate of vaccination, but “even one case has significant potential.”
“I give this example: if I have measles and I go into a room and there are 100 other people there, measles is extremely contagious and it means that if those other people in the room were not immunized, 90 out of the 100 would develop measles.”
