Toronto health officials are warning about a possible measles exposure at Pearson International Airport last month.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) says it is investigating a confirmed case of measles, which could be linked to travel. This is the city’s first reported case of the highly contagious virus this year.
In a news release on Wednesday, TPH said those who were at Terminal 1 on Feb. 22, between 1:40 p.m. and 4:10 p.m., may have been exposed to the virus.
In addition, passengers on Avianca Flight AV579 from Guatemala City to San Salvador on Feb. 21 and Avianca Flight AV324 from San Salvador to Toronto on Feb. 22 are being advised that they may have been exposed to measles.
TPH is urging them to check for symptoms until March 15. Symptoms can include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, a red rash that begins on the face and spreads down the body and small blue-white spots (Koplik spots) that can appear on the inside of the mouth and throat.
“Stay alert for symptoms even if you have been vaccinated against measles. If symptoms develop, contact a health-care provider immediately,” TPH said.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected individual breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks.
Earlier on Wednesday, York Region Public Health also reported a confirmed case of measles that was acquired outside of Canada.
Public Health Ontario says the province started seeing more measles cases in 2024. Last year, Ontario had 2,396 cases of measles, most of which were linked to a large multi-jurisdictional outbreak.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, four of the 339 measles cases reported so far this year are in Ontario.
In November, Canada lost its measles elimination status it held since 1998 for failing to curb the year-long outbreak.