The lab-confirmed measles case in our region was a false positive.
That from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, which says the positive result on March 12 was the result of a laboratory error by Public Health Ontario.
Dr. Charles Gardner, Medical Officer of Health, says that means there has not been any public exposure to the virus in our region, although it is currently active in Ontario.
“We recognize that notifying the public of what we believed to be a positive measles case in our area created worry, anxiety and disruption for some, and we regret this,” says Gardner. “We do know that, despite best efforts, on rare occasions laboratory errors can occur. We are working closely with the PHO’s laboratory to do all that we can to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.”
Gardner adds that with Ontarians travelling in and out of the country, getting vaccinated against measles remains important.