A health alert has been issued after a Toronto resident and apparent WestJet employee has been diagnosed with the measles virus, with seven flights at risk of possible exposure.
WestJet says the airline has started contacting travellers who may have been exposed on the flights that the flight crew member flew on in recent days.
The following WestJet flights have been flagged for possible exposure:
March 22 – WS450, departed Abbotsford at 5:49 a.m. and arrived in Calgary at 7:50 a.m.
WS610, departed Calgary at 10:15 a.m. and arrived in Ottawa at 3:47 p.m.
WS369, departed Ottawa at 4:40 p.m. and arrived in Toronto at 5:42 p.m.
March 23 – WS590, departed Toronto at 4:27 p.m. and arrived in Montreal at 5:41 p.m.
March 24 – WS581, departed Montreal at 7:55 a.m. and arrived in Toronto at 9:13 a.m.
WS2668, departed Toronto at 10:16 a.m. and arrived in Turks and Caicos Islands at 1:56 p.m.
WS2669, departed Turks and Caicos Islands at 2:59 p.m. and arrived in Toronto at 7:15 p.m.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily to those who are not immune or are vulnerable, health officials say, and anyone who has not had two doses of a measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV) or who has not had measles in the past is at risk of infection.
Monitor for symptoms of measles, including high fever, cold-like symptoms such as cough or runny nose, sore eyes or sensitivity to light and a red rash lasting four to seven days.
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