One new measles case confirmed by Northern Health

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The number of measles cases in the Northern Health region has increased again.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) latest case count update, published on Monday, July 28th, there are currently 91 confirmed cases of measles in the region, up from 90 as of July 24th.

The number of probable cases remains at 16, meaning the total number of cases within Northern Health’s coverage area could be as high as 107.

‘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.”

There are currently zero active cases of the virus in the entire province. 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.

The new case in the north is the only additional case reported since July 24th, meaning the number of cases across all of B.C. now sits at 147 – 131 confirmed and 16 probable.

Fraser Health has reported the second-most cases at 18, followed by Interior Health with 10, Vancouver Coastal Health with nine and Island Health with three. 

Northern Health has reported just under 70 per cent of all confirmed measles cases in the province so far this year.

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 28th, there have been seven measles exposure locations reported in Fort St. John, with four 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.