Ontario’s measles outbreak has become so big that public health officials in New York state have included the province in a travel advisory that urges residents to get vaccinated before visiting.
“Measles is only a car ride away!” reads the April 2nd measles travel advisory for all New Yorkers from the New York State Department of Health.
“Currently, measles outbreaks are happening in parts of the United States and Canada, especially in Ontario, and around the world.” The advisory also lists the following countries as having a high number of measles cases: Yemen, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Ethiopia, Romania, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.
“Measles is a highly contagious virus. Around 90 per cent of people who are exposed to a person with measles will become infected if they are not vaccinated. Because measles is so contagious, it easily crosses borders,” the advisory continues.