London-area measles case prompts warning for passengers on Dec. 22 flight

A baby from the London area tested positive for measles after arriving Dec. 22 in Toronto on a flight from Pakistan, prompting the Middlesex-London Health Unit to issue a warning Monday to people on the same flight. The seven-month-old was diagnosed with the highly contagious disease after taking Pakistan International Airlines Flight 781 from Islamabad, Pakistan, that landed at Pearson International Airport at 7 p.m. on Dec. 22, Alex Summers, medical officer of health for Middlesex-London, said Monday. The family drove from the airport to London in a private vehicle, and the child was taken to hospital for medical care shortly after showing symptoms, he said. “They (family) came in touch with some other folks in those health care settings (through the process of getting medical care.) So we have been working directly with those people that might have been exposed to make sure they are aware and protected,” Summers said. The child is stable but should stay in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time for monitoring, he said. “We’re fortunate that in Middlesex-London, measles vaccination rates are very high, so the risk of community transmission is very low, but because it’s so infectious, we need to respond quickly,” Summers said. <br/>