Ontario is now ‘knock on wood’ measles free: Health minister

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TORONTO — Ontario’s health minister says the province is now — “knock on wood” — measles free.

Eric Hoskins says it has now been 21 days since the last case of measles was reported in Ontario, so unless there are undetected cases, the outbreak appears to be over.

Hoskins, who is a medical doctor, says the incubation period is between seven and 21 days and symptoms tend to appear in the first two weeks.

There were fewer than 20 cases in Ontario, in the Toronto and Niagara regions, compared to 119 cases in Quebec.

Measles is highly contagious and causes fever, a distinctive red rash and a runny nose.

While most people who become infected will only experience an unpleasant illness, the disease can have more serious complications in some cases, particularly in young children.