Northeast B.C. accounts for 70 per cent of all provincial measles cases, BCCDC reveals

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — More granular reporting of new measles cases has been revealed by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), and it paints an unflattering portrait of the northeast.

The agency released its latest case count update for the virus on Monday, October 6th, reporting 210 confirmed cases in the Northern Health region, up from 199 cases as of Thursday, October 2nd.

Those are the only new confirmed cases in the province, bringing the total count for B.C. up to 282 compared to 271 last week.

Additionally, beginning this week, the agency is including a breakdown of measles cases by health service delivery area. 

The new update indicates 197 of the province’s confirmed cases — roughly 70 per cent — come specifically from northeastern B.C.

The number of probable cases remains unchanged at 20, 19 of which were reported by Northern Health — all in the northeast — while the other was reported by Interior Health. That means the total case count in the province could be as high as 302.

Regarding active cases, there are currently none anywhere in the province, down from two last week, both reported by Northern Health.

Cases are considered active for the first four days after a rash manifests, the first 10 days after non-rash symptoms — which can include a fever, cough, runny nose and red, inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light — appear, or for the first 10 days after being reported if the case is asymptomatic.

The aforementioned rash typically first appears on the face or neck before spreading across the rest of the torso.

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. 

In some cases, it can be fatal, although no measles-related deaths have been reported in B.C. so far this year. The first measles-related death in Canada in 2025 was reported in Alberta in early October by CBC.

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. People who are completely unvaccinated against measles, including kids younger than one year old, are at the greatest risk of infection.

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.