New measles exposure location at Fort St. John Hospital emergency department

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — People living in northeast B.C. are being alerted to a measles exposure at Fort St. John’s hospital. 

According to a July 22nd Facebook post from Northern Health, people at Fort St. John Hospital emergency department were exposed to the virus on July 13th from 3:35 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.

Anyone who may have been there at that time is asked to monitor for any symptoms.

The same emergency department has previously been identified as an exposure location on various other dates, including July 9th and Canada Day.

Northeast B.C. is feeling the brunt of the outbreak this year, with the majority of the measles patients in B.C. being treated by Northern Health. 

The latest update from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) reported 83 of the 122 cases around the province – nearly 70 per cent – are in the area. 

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.

This comes as a Fort St. John mother shared her story with Energeticcity.ca on her difficulty in getting her son tested for measles despite the outbreak.

More information about how to prevent the spread of measles can be found here.