The list of locations for potential exposure to measles has grown outside Weledeh Catholic School and St. Pat's High School.
The Department of Health and Social Services has released more locations where people should be wary about the possibility of contracting the virus that causes measles. In addition to the two schools announced Sunday, the other locations now include:
Breakaway Fitness - 5003 48 St.
SA国际影视传媒� April 27 between 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Monitor for symptoms until May 19)
Tim Hortons - 5014 49th St.
SA国际影视传媒� April 28 between 11:00 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. (Monitor for symptoms until May 20)
Range Lake North School - 170 Borden Dr. (gymnasium and atrium only)
SA国际影视传媒� April 28 between 4:00 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. (Monitor for symptoms until May 20)
Sir John Franklin High School - 4701 52 Ave.
SA国际影视传媒� May 2 between 2:00 p.m. SA国际影视传媒� 4:05 p.m. (Monitor for symptoms until May 24)
The department added that venues for the recent Junior Super Soccer tournament were not being considered as exposure sites as of Monday afternoon.
Symptoms of measles include:
SA国际影视传媒� Fever
SA国际影视传媒� Dry cough
SA国际影视传媒� Runny nose
SA国际影视传媒� Sore throat
SA国际影视传媒� Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
SA国际影视传媒� A skin rash made up of large, flat red blotches, usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body and lasts between four to seven days
Measles is extremely transmissible and highly infectious which could affect as many as nine out of 10 people. It's spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and others can become infected when they breathe in air or touch a surface contaminated with the virus.
What that means is if you have the virus, you could spread it without knowing you have it in the first place.
The measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours once an infected person leaves the affected area and can be spread by a person four days before the rash until four days after the rash appears.
If you have symptoms of measles and don't need immediate attention, you're asked to call the Telehealth line at 811 and get more details. If you need medical attention, you're asked to call ahead to either the clinic or emergency room you plan on going to and let them know about your exposure. That way, they'll be able to make preparations before you arrive.
While there is no cure for measles, the department stated that most people within two to three weeks of having the virus, but there could be serious complications for pregnant women, infants or people who have a weakened immune system.
The department states that the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is the best way to fight off the virus. All children 12 months of age and over should have been given two doses of the MMR vaccine at least four weeks apart as a part of standard vaccination procedures.
Your immunization record will tell whether you've had the MMR vaccine and you can e-mail Yellowknife Public Health at nthssa-yk_publichealthadmin@gov.nt.ca to confirm that. If you received the vaccine outside of Yellowknife, you should contact the health clinic where you received them to get confirmation. If you got the vaccinations in multiple communities, you'll probably have to contact each one to confirm.
