Two new measles cases confirmed in Northern Health region

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Two new measles cases have been confirmed by Northern Health, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

The latest count from the agency says the number of confirmed cases in the region is now at 195, up from 193 as of the last update on Thursday, September 18th.

These two are the only new cases identified across the province, bringing the total confirmed case count up from 265 to 267. Northern Health is responsible for roughly 73 per cent of all confirmed cases in B.C. so far this year.

The number of probable cases remains unchanged, with 17 identified in total, 16 of which were identified by Northern Health. That means the total case count so far this year could be as high as 284.

The number of active cases remains at zero, just like the last update. Cases are considered active for the first 10 days after being reported, the first four days after a rash manifests or the first 10 days after non-rash symptoms manifest.

Those non-rash symptoms include coughing, runny nose, fever and red, inflamed eyes that are sensitive to the light. The rash typically appears first on the face and neck before spreading across the rest of the torso.

According to the BCCDC, measles is a very serious disease, with one in 10 people who contract it ending up hospitalized. It can also lead to serious health complications like pneumonia and, in extreme cases, it can be fatal.

Late last month, Northern Health identified a potential measles exposure incident at the Fort St. John Hospital’s emergency department between 9 p.m. on Thursday, August 28th and 1 a.m. on Friday, August 29th.

As of Monday, September 22nd, no new exposure incidents have been identified in the region since.

Anyone experiencing measles symptoms is urged to contact their primary care provider to book a test.

To view the full case count update, look below.