One new measles case confirmed in northeast B.C.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A single new measles patient in the northeast is the only new confirmed case in the province today.

The latest case count update from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) shows the number of cases in the northeast has risen to 209, up from 208 on Tuesday, October 14th. 

That brings the total number of confirmed cases in B.C. up to 295. The northeast makes up nearly 71 per cent of those cases. The total number for Northern Health’s coverage area is 222.

The number of probable cases remains unchanged, with 20 identified in total — 19 in the northeast and one more in the Okanagan region. That means the total case count could be as high as 315.

The number of active cases across the province remains at two, but there’s no longer an active case in the Fraser east region. Instead, there are now two active cases in the northeast.

Cases are considered active for the first four days after a rash manifests, the first 10 days after other symptoms manifest or the first 10 days after the case is confirmed if it’s asymptomatic.

The aforementioned rash usually starts on the face and neck before spreading across the rest of the torso. Other symptoms include a cough, runny nose, fever and red, inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light.

Measles is an extremely serious disease, according to the BCCDC. It can lead to health complications like pneumonia and swelling of the brain, and one in 10 people who contract it are hospitalized.

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.

A number of new exposure incidents in the Peace region, including a pair of flights and several incidents at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital between September 30th and October 6th, were identified by Northern Health in a Facebook post on Tuesday, October 14th.

Anyone who believes they’ve been exposed to measles or who is showing possible symptoms is urged to contact their primary care provider.

To view the latest case count update, look below.