Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) has issued a public advisory regarding a potential measles exposure at Norfolk General Hospital’s Emergency Department in Simcoe.
Individuals who were present at the facility on specific dates and times may have been exposed to the virus and are urged to take appropriate precautions.
According to GEPH, exposure to measles may have occurred at Norfolk General Hospital, located at 365 West St., Simcoe, on March 9, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and again on March 11, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Anyone who was at the hospital during these periods is encouraged to complete the measles exposure form available at www.geph.ca/measlesform.
The form will assist public health officials in conducting risk assessments and providing guidance on necessary precautions to limit further transmission.
Individuals born in or after 1970 who have not had a prior measles infection and have not received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine are considered at risk of infection if exposed.
Health officials advise that those who have been exposed may reduce their risk of infection by receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine within 72 hours of exposure.
Additionally, susceptible individuals at higher risk—including infants, pregnant individuals, and those with compromised immune systems—may be eligible for immunoglobulin treatment within six days of exposure to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person.
Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash. In severe cases, complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and hospitalization can occur.
Further details about measles, including symptoms, prevention, and what to do if exposed, can be found at www.bchu.org/measles or www.hnhu.org/measles.
Grand Erie Public Health, formed in January 2025 through the merger of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and Brant County Health Unit, serves Brant County, Brantford, Haldimand County, and Norfolk County.
The organization focuses on disease prevention, health promotion, and community well-being, operating under the Health Protection and Promotion Act and Ontario Public Health Standards.
