Four more measles cases reported by Northern Health

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Northern Health has reported four of the five new measles cases in the province, despite a current lack of active cases. 

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)’s July 10th update, there have been 104 cases of measles reported across the province so far this year. 

Of those cases, Northern Health has reported four, bringing the total for the region to 75.

This is a provincial increase of five cases compared to the centre’s July 7th case count update. Despite the increase, the BCCDC continues to maintain there are no active cases anywhere in the province. 

A case of measles is not considered active if the infected individual is four days post-rash onset, or 10 days post-symptom onset if no rash is present. Cases are also considered inactive 10 days after the case is reported if no information on symptoms is available at the time of reporting. 

In a July 10th press conference with the Minister of Health Josie Osborne, deputy provincial health officer Dr Martin Lavoie and doctors from Northern Health and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Dr Lavoie stated they were aware of a “significant level of under-detection,” because “not everybody shows up and asks for medical services.”

As of July 10th, there have been six measles exposure locations reported in Fort St. John:

• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 3:30 p.m. on July 4th and 2 a.m. on July 5th.
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 6:35 a.m. on July 1st and 12:03 a.m. on July 2nd. 
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 4:35 a.m. on July 1st and 6:05 a.m. on July 2nd. 
• The Fort St. John prenatal clinic from 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on June 27th.
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department and waiting room between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. on June 23rd. 
• Bert Bowes Middle School between 8:30 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. from June 18th to June 20th.