Date: July 11, 2026 l Reporter: Bill James
Peel Public Health has issued a public warning after confirming that travellers and airport visitors may have been exposed to a case of measles at Toronto Pearson International Airport and on two commercial flights earlier this week, prompting officials to urge anyone who may have been affected to monitor for symptoms and verify their vaccination status.
According to Peel Public Health, the potential exposure occurred on Tuesday, July 7, involving passengers on Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight BG305, which travelled from Bangladesh to Toronto via Rome, and Air Canada Flight AC1986, which departed Toronto for Moncton later the same day. Health officials also identified possible exposure within Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport between 1:11 p.m. and 11:45 p.m., when the infected individual was believed to have passed through the airport.
Public health authorities are advising anyone who was on either flight or present at Pearson Airport during the specified period to review their immunization records and remain alert for symptoms of measles until July 28. Early symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes, followed several days later by the disease's distinctive red rash. Officials noted that symptoms can begin as early as seven days after exposure but may take up to three weeks to develop.
Measles is among the most contagious viral diseases known. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even breathes in enclosed spaces. Because the virus can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, public health officials often issue broad exposure notifications whenever infected individuals travel through busy transportation hubs such as international airports.
Health officials emphasized that individuals who have received the recommended measles vaccinations are considered well protected against infection. Those who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, pregnant, immunocompromised, or caring for young infants are encouraged to contact their local public health unit or healthcare provider promptly if they believe they were exposed. Early medical assessment can help determine whether preventive treatment or additional monitoring is required.
The latest advisory follows a series of measles exposure notices issued across the Greater Toronto Area in recent months, reflecting a broader resurgence of the disease in parts of Ontario and internationally. Increased global travel has contributed to imported cases, with infected travellers occasionally passing through major airports before symptoms become fully apparent. Public health agencies have therefore intensified surveillance and public notification efforts whenever confirmed cases involve air travel.
Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's busiest airport, handles tens of millions of passengers each year, making rapid public notification particularly important whenever a communicable disease exposure is identified. Although the vast majority of travellers face little risk if fully immunized, officials say timely awareness helps reduce the likelihood of secondary transmission by allowing exposed individuals to recognize symptoms early and seek appropriate medical advice.
Peel Public Health stressed that the advisory is precautionary and does not mean everyone present at the airport or on the affected flights will become ill. Instead, the notification is intended to ensure that anyone who may have encountered the infected individual can take appropriate steps to protect themselves and others.
Officials are encouraging anyone who develops symptoms consistent with measles to telephone their healthcare provider before visiting a clinic or hospital so that appropriate infection-control measures can be arranged. This helps reduce the risk of exposing other patients, particularly infants, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, who are among those most vulnerable to serious complications from the disease.
The latest exposure alert serves as another reminder of the importance of routine childhood immunization and maintaining high vaccination coverage within communities. Public health experts continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective defence against measles and the key to preventing outbreaks as international travel continues to increase.
While Peel Public Health continues its investigation and contact tracing efforts, officials say travellers who were at Pearson Airport or on the identified flights should remain vigilant over the coming weeks. Early recognition of symptoms and prompt communication with healthcare providers remain essential in limiting further spread of one of the world's most contagious infectious diseases.