While a measles outbreak continues to spread in the United States, local health officials say there has been no uptick in cases here.
Recently, New York declared a statewide emergency over a measles outbreak. So far this year, New York has reported 108 cases of the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, as of October 1, there were 3,887 confirmed measles cases in the United States, and over 350 have required hospitalization.
Lambton Public Health (LPH) Supervisor of Health Protection Carshenan Lai told Sarnia News Today, there's no word on outbreak concerns locally.
"We haven't really received any information from the Ministry of Health that we're looking at a measles outbreak locally," said Lai. "We definitely monitor the situation and our measles vaccine rates are above the provincial average. So, to my knowledge, locally we're not looking at any risks that we've been communicated to by the ministry."
Lai noted residents should make sure they and their children have up-to-date vaccinations.
"School aged children should definitely speak with their health care provider, make sure that they have their two doses of measles vaccine," Lai said. "They are required for school aged children, so they can speak with their health care provider to make sure they're up to date and also contact Lambton Public Health if they have any questions."
The health unit reported a total of 20 cases during the provincial outbreak in 2025.
According to LPH's website, the measles virus can stay in the air and live on surfaces for up to two hours and can cause serious illness, especially for at-risk populations, including infants, those who are pregnant, and the immunocompromised.
Measles symptoms usually occur within one to 12 days but can appear up to 21 days after exposure. Those symptoms can include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes, and Koplik (white) spots in the mouth.
