Measles case numbers continue to increase for Northern Health

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Northern Health has seen another increase in active and confirmed measles cases in northeast B.C.

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)’s latest update on July 24th, Northern Health has reported 90 confirmed cases and 16 probable cases of measles so far in 2025. Of those, two are currently active cases.

This is an increase of seven confirmed cases compared to the BCCDC’s July 21st case count update. 

‘Probable’ cases are ones where there is “clinical illness without lab confirmation or epidemiological link to a lab-confirmed case, but with recent travel to an area of known measles activity.”

A case of measles is considered active if the patient is within four days of the onset of a rash, or 10 days after symptoms start if there is no rash. If no information is available upon the case being reported, the case is considered active for the next 10 days. 

Across the province, there have been 130 confirmed, 16 probable and 146 total cases of measles reported so far in 2025. The two cases in Northern Health are the only active cases of measles reported to the BCCDC on July 24th.

Of those confirmed cases, Fraser Health has reported 18, Interior Health 10, Vancouver Coastal Health nine and Island Health three. Northern Health has reported just under 70 per cent of all confirmed cases in the province in 2025. 

Symptoms of measles include a fever, cough, runny nose and red, inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light and a rash which typically appears on the face and neck before spreading to the chest, arms and legs.

Residents who experience similar symptoms to those listed are encouraged to stay at home and connect with their care provider to get tested.

As of July 24th, there have been seven measles exposure locations reported in Fort St. John, with four occurring in July:

• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 3:35 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. on July 13th. 
• 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 p.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.

To read the BCCDC’s complete case count update, see below.