Montreal Public Health Warns About Measles Exposure at Airport

Montreal Public Health warned Monday that an infected child with measles was present at Montreal Trudeau Airport and CHU Sainte Justine emergency room while contagious, after the child traveled through the sites on October 9 and 10, creating possible exposure risks.

According to Montreal Public Health, airport exposure occurred in the international arrivals area, passport control, baggage claim and exit route between 6:26 p.m. and 9:56 p.m. on October 9.

The agency said people who visited the CHU Sainte Justine emergency room between 6 a.m. and 11:52 a.m. on October 10 should monitor symptoms until October 31, 2026.

Montreal Public Health advised exposed individuals to verify their measles protection status. In Quebec, protection rules vary by birth year and vaccination history, including two vaccine doses for people born since 1980.

The agency said protected people have a lower chance of infection but should still monitor symptoms. Measles signs can include fever, cough, eye sensitivity, conjunctivitis, nasal congestion and later skin rashes.

"A preventive treatment may be necessary and must be given quickly," said Montreal Public Health.

The health agency said unprotected people who were at the locations during the exposure periods should contact Info Sante 811 to assess possible measures.

According to Montreal Public Health, measles spreads through the air or direct contact and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, vision loss, brain infection or death in rare cases.

Each reported measles case in Quebec triggers a public health investigation to identify the infection source and people who may have been exposed. The latest Quebec outbreak ended in August after 28 cases.

According to a Public Health Agency of Canada surveillance report cited by La Presse Canadienne, Canada had recorded 1,121 measles cases as of September 26. Canada lost its measles-free status in November 2025 after continued transmission of the same virus strain for more than a year.