Investigators with Public Health believe the airborne disease has likely spread and sickened more people<\/p>\n
Author of the article:<\/p>\n
John Chilibeck<\/a> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Local Journalism Initiative reporter<\/p>\n Published Jul 14, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 3\u00a0days ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The measles outbreak in the Sussex region has grown to three confirmed and five probable cases, raising fears more people could become infected with the extremely contagious airborne disease.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Dr. Kimberley Barker, regional medical officer of health for southern New Brunswick, told reporters in a virtual news conference on Tuesday afternoon it was important for people who have measles symptoms not to go to a cramped hospital emergency room.<\/p>\n Instead, they should call the free Telecare 811 line and a representative should be able to transfer the caller to Public Health for more advice or make arrangements to go to the hospital, without contaminating anyone.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really important that people become familiar with the signs and symptoms of measles,\u201d the physician said. \u201cIt is highly contagious and coming into an emergency department, where we know waiting rooms are often very, very busy, means that you are posing a huge risk of contaminating staff and other patients.\u201d<\/p>\n Morning Email Telegraph-Journal<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Public Health is also encouraging people with symptoms to isolate themselves from other family members and not to go to a clinic, work or other gatherings.<\/p>\n The measles virus is transmitted through the air or by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of an infected person.<\/p>\n Early symptoms may include fever, cough, sore and\/or red eyes, runny nose or tiny white spots in the mouth. Within three to seven days, the telltale red, blotchy rash will appear, first on the face and then spreading to the body, arms and legs. In bad cases, measles can lead to serious complications.<\/p>\n It is highly contagious and coming into an emergency department, where we know waiting rooms are often very, very busy, means that you are posing a huge risk of contaminating staff and other patients.<\/p>\n Dr. Kimberley Barker<\/p>\n It can take up to three weeks for symptoms to appear after being near someone who has measles.<\/p>\n \u201cThere may be more cases out in the Sussex area who may have symptoms that are not warranting them to seek medical care and are staying home, which is the right thing to do,\u201d Barker said. \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate we can\u2019t always predict what our final numbers will be. But three cases are confirmed, five are probable, and we anticipate there are more to come.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Public Health has been advising people to check their immunization records or contact their health-care provider if they were unsure if they\u2019d had their shots, either for measles, mumps and rubella or measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. Barker said the risk remains low for people who are protected.<\/p>\n Unprotected people, especially infants and adults, are at high risk. As many as 15 out of 100 people who contract measles are hospitalized. The disease can cause permanent deafness, brain damage and death.<\/p>\n Anyone born in 1970 or later who has not received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine can contact their health-care provider to be immunized. The vaccine is free of charge for eligible New Brunswickers, which is also available at pharmacies.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The first person in New Brunswick who was infected in this latest outbreak is believed to have come in close contact with a man who had travelled to other parts of Canada and has since returned to his home province of Nova Scotia, where he became ill. A test confirmed that he had measles.<\/p>\n The unidentified person in New Brunswick who caught it from him was confirmed to have the disease July 9.<\/p>\n Public Health declared an outbreak on the weekend after two cases were confirmed to have measles, the trigger for such a measure.<\/p>\n The virus spreads fast: An outbreak late last year in the Fredericton and upper Saint John River valley areas sickened about 50 and it is believed at least one of the ill persons travelled to Ontario and spread the virus there.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n There are almost 4,000 confirmed and probable cases in Canada, the majority in Ontario and Alberta.<\/p>\n In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,288 confirmed cases this year as of July 8, including 27 outbreaks.<\/p>\n The illness has led to three deaths in the United States and one in Canada.<\/p>\n So far, New Brunswick Public Health has held two special measles immunization clinics in Sussex, on Thursday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon. Barker said people could still book slots that are open during regular business hours at Public Health\u2019s office at 30 Moffett Ave. in Sussex.<\/p>\n Barker said about 140 people in total showed up at the two clinics, although not everyone asked for their shots. Some visitors were simply seeking more information about the disease.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Cases are confirmed through lab tests of people\u2019s urine.<\/p>\n A provincial news release on Monday noted that children and youth under 18 should visit their Public Health office or primary care provider for shots if they haven\u2019t had them. And children as young as six to 11 months are now eligible for an early dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine if they are travelling internationally or within Canada to areas with known measles activity.<\/p>\n Further updates, including new potential exposures, will be added to the\u202fPublic Health Advisories and Alerts<\/a> website.<\/p>\n![\"warning](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0714-lb-measles.jpg\")
New Brunswick has declared an outbreak of the disease in the Sussex region. POSTMEDIA ARCHIVESArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Telegraph-Journal\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.1.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tj.svg\"){kind=logo}
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