Northern Health confirms 12 new measles cases in northeast B.C.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The northeast has experienced another spike in measles numbers, with 12 new cases confirmed in the past three days. 

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)’s latest case count update on August 14th, Northern Health has reported 12 new confirmed cases of measles, four of which are considered active cases. 

The BCCDC considers a case of measles active and communicable for four days after the onset of a rash, or 10 days after symptoms start if no rash is present. A case can also be active for 10 days after it is reported if no information on symptoms is available at the time of reporting. 

Additionally, Island Health confirmed one new case, meaning 13 cases of measles have been confirmed since the BCCDC’s previous update on August 11th. 

So far in 2025, Northern Health has reported 134 confirmed cases of measles and 16 probable cases, for a total of 150. 

Elsewhere in the province, Fraser Health has reported 23 confirmed cases, Interior Health has reported 16, Vancouver Coastal Health has reported 10 and Island Health has reported four. Northern Health has reported the only probable cases in B.C.

This means the province has reported 187 confirmed cases of measles and 16 probable cases, for a total of 203 cases of measles so far in 2025. As of August 14th, Northern Health accounts for 80.2 per cent of the province’s cases.

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

Individuals who experience similar symptoms to these are encouraged to stay at home and connect with their care provider or the Northern Health Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic to get tested. 

On August 3rd, a measles exposure occurred at the Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 10:45 a.m. and 4:35 p.m.. Since then, no more exposures in the Northern Health region have been reported. 

The BCCDC explains measles is a very serious disease, with one in 10 people who contracted the virus being hospitalized. Those who become sick with measles are also at risk of complications such as pneumonia and deadly inflammation of the brain. 

To read the complete measles update, see below.