Health Alert: Measles Exposure on Recent Royal Air Maroc Flight to Montreal
Public Health officials have issued a warning after a passenger with measles was identified on a Royal Air Maroc flight that arrived at Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport on January 17. Travelers who were on board the flight or in specific areas of the airport at the time are advised to monitor themselves for symptoms of the highly contagious disease.
Measles symptoms typically include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and light-sensitive eyes, followed by a distinctive rash on the face and body. The infected individual had traveled on flight AT558 from Cotonou, Benin, to Casablanca, Morocco, before taking flight AT208 to Montreal with an eight-hour layover in between. It is important for passengers on these flights and individuals at Casablanca airport, Montreal-Trudeau airport, and the baggage carousel area (exit zone 8) to consider themselves potential contacts of a measles case.
Those born before 1970 or who have received two doses of the measles vaccine are generally protected against the disease. However, individuals who lack immunity and were in proximity to the infected person at the airport, especially those in high-risk groups like infants, immunocompromised persons, and unvaccinated pregnant women, are advised to contact Info-Santé 811 promptly.
This incident marks the second recent measles case at Montreal-Trudeau airport, highlighting the ongoing measles outbreak in Quebec. As of January 22, nine confirmed cases have been linked to the outbreak, with an additional two unrelated cases reported. Public health authorities stress the importance of vaccination and vigilance in preventing the spread of measles.
