B.C. measles cases rise as Alberta reports first outbreak-related death

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — As the number of measles cases in northern B.C. continues to rise, the consequences of this year’s measles outbreak has started to manifest across the provincial border.

According to an October 2nd report from CBC, an infant born prematurely after its mother contracted measles passed away shortly after birth, marking the first death in the province as a result of the virus.

The province’s monitoring page indicates Alberta has seen a much larger outbreak of the virus so far this year than B.C., with 1,914 confirmed cases as of Thursday, October 2nd.

In comparison, the latest case count update from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) shows 271 cases have been confirmed in B.C. so far this year, up from 268 as of its previous update.

All three new cases were confirmed by Northern Health, bringing the total number of cases in that region up to 199 — more than 73 per cent of all cases so far this year. 

The number of probable cases reported by Northern Health also rose from 16 to 19, and alongside one additional probable case reported in Interior Health’s region, there are currently 20 total probable cases in B.C.

In terms of active cases, there are currently two in B.C. — both in the Northern Health region. Meanwhile, only one case in Alberta is currently considered communicable according to the province’s website.

The BCCDC defines measles cases as active for the first 10 days after being confirmed, the first four days after a rash manifests or the first 10 days after non-rash symptoms — which can include a runny nose, cough, fever and red, inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light — manifest.

Meanwhile, Alberta’s website says the disease is communicable “starting four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash appears.”

According to the BCCDC, measles is an extremely serious disease. One in 10 people who contract it are reportedly hospitalized, and it can lead to serious health complications like pneumonia and swelling of the brain. 

Some cases can also be fatal. People who are completely unvaccinated against measles, including kids younger than one year old, are at the greatest risk of infection.

Measles primarily spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can also survive in small droplets in the air for several hours, infecting whoever touches them or breathes them in.

The last measles exposure incident in the Northern Health region was reported in late August at the Fort St. John Hospital’s emergency department.

Anyone experiencing measles symptoms is urged to contact their primary care provider. To view the BCCDC’s latest case count update, look below.