Total measles case counts rise, ‘active’ numbers drop in Northern Health region and across B.C.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — More than 50 measles cases have been reported to Northern Health, according to the latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

As per the BCCDC’s case count update issued on Monday, June 30th, the number of cases reported across the province now sits at 77, up from 63 cases on Thursday, June 26th.

The data shows 51 of those cases were reported in the Northern Health region, alongside eight cases in both the Interior and Vancouver Coastal Health coverage areas, seven in the Fraser Health region and three in the Island Health region.

Despite that increase in total cases, the number of what the BCCDC calls “active cases” has dropped to eight, down from 13 last week. Six of those cases are in the Northern Health coverage area, alongside one each in the Interior and Island Health regions.

Cases are marked as inactive if the patient is four days post-rash onset or, in the case of infection without a rash, 10 days after symptoms first begin.

However, the BCCDC is warning that its numbers for the Northern Health coverage area only capture a ‘subset’ of measles cases in the region, because “some communities have a large disease burden, and not everyone is presenting to Northern Health for diagnosis and healthcare support.”

Several measles exposure times and locations have also been outlined by Northern Health. As of the latest update to the BCCDC’s website, no new exposures have been identified.

In an interview with Energeticcity.ca, Northern Health chief medical health officer Dr. Jong Kim explained hospital-goers can expect to see and experience extra precautions including a screening process at hospitals.

Measles is spread through airborne droplets and can cause serious or life-threatening complications, with the most susceptible individuals being infants and elderly adults. 

Symptoms of measles include a fever, cough, runny nose and watery inflamed eyes, small red spots with white or blue-white centres and red, blotchy rashes starting on the face. The rash typically begins between the third and seventh day of illness, and lasts between four and seven days.

Anyone who is experiencing similar symptoms is encouraged to stay at home and connect with their care provider to get tested. 

According to Northern Health, one in 10 cases of measles will develop ear infections or pneumonia; one in 1,000 will experience permanent brain damage, blindness and deafness due to inflammation of the brain; and one in 3,000 cases result in fatalities. 

Several measles outbreaks have been reported around the world with a decline in immunization rates, and Northern Health encourages everyone to get vaccinated as it is the best form of protection.