Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I'd like to ask the Minister: how did this outbreak of measles happen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The case involves an individual who travelled from an international destination to Inuvik by airplane. The journey returning to Inuvik took them through Yellowknife and Norman Wells on February 13th. Prior to contacting, the department has actually begun that, and has started to reach out to everybody that has been contacted as part of our normal protocol when there's an infectious outbreak. We've been working to follow-up with everybody that was identified as a possible contact. The chief public health officer issued a public health advisory on February 22nd regarding the one confirmed, laboratory confirmed, case of active measles in the Northwest Territories. A second advisory was issued on February 24th to provide some additional information to residents across the Northwest Territories so that they understand what possible contact locations may have been and what actions they can take to protect themselves and their families.
Right now, how many cases of confirmed cases of measles are there in the Northwest Territories?
The last update I had, and I believe it's still current, was on February 24th, and at that time, there was one laboratory confirmed case of measles in the Northwest Territories.
What can unvaccinated people do if they suspect they have been exposed to the measles virus?
Obviously, we'd encourage everybody who isn't vaccinated to get vaccinated. I know that, for children under 12 months, they can't be vaccinated until they reach a year. If somebody feels like they've come into contact or they feel like they're having symptoms or if unprotected people actually develop the symptoms, they should remain in their homes and call their health centre immediately. Calling a health centre in advance ensures that the health centres can take the precautions necessary to prevent additional transmissions or additional contacts and reduce the number of people who may be affected. High-risk individuals who are exposed to measles should immediately contact their health centres and healthcare practitioners to figure out how best to engage assistance and make sure they get the supports and care they need.
Masi. Oral questions, Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister answered a part of this next question, but I'll ask: what can people do to protect themselves from the measles virus?.
Frankly, the best way to protect against measles disease is to get immunized. Children 12 months of age and over and adults born after 1970 and onwards should have two doses of the vaccine. Immunization is available in all communities, all community health centres or local public health units. Measles can be dangerous for infants, and I think we really need to be concerned for those who are unvaccinated under 12 months. Pregnant women are also at risk. Those with weakened immune systems are at greater levels of risk. For these higher-risk individuals, a different form of immunization reduces the risk if given within six days of actual contact with somebody who has a laboratory-confirmed case, so there are other options. Measles-containing vaccine is available to all NWT residents. It's free, and it can be obtained at local health centres, public health units, and other places, so please get yourself immunized. If you have symptoms, contact your health practitioners right away. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
