Measles outbreak stalls with no new cases anywhere in province

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — No new measles cases have been confirmed anywhere in British Columbia, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

The agency’s latest case count report was issued on Monday, October 20th, showing zero new cases of the virus reported by any health authority. That means the number of confirmed cases in B.C. remains 295, the same number reported on Thursday, October 16th.

According to the report, the 209 cases confirmed in the northeast so far this year make up nearly 71 of all confirmed cases across the province. The total number of cases confirmed by Northern Health sits at 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.

Meanwhile, the two active cases reported on October 16th are no longer listed, meaning there are zero active cases anywhere in B.C.

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.

Measles symptoms include a cough, fever, runny nose, red, inflamed eyes that are light-sensitive, and the aforementioned rash, which usually spreads across the torso after starting on the face and neck.

According to the BCCDC, one in ten people who contract measles are hospitalized, and it can lead to serious health complications, including swelling in the brain and pneumonia.

Kids younger than one year old and anyone else completely unvaccinated against measles are at the highest risk of contracting the virus. 

It mainly spreads through the air when infected people sneeze, cough or breathe, and can also survive in small droplets in the air for several hours, infecting anyone who touches them.

The last measles exposure incidents identified in northeast B.C. came from a Northern Health Facebook post on October 14th. Those included the following flights:

• Air Canada flight 8368 – Fort St. John to Vancouver October 6, 2025, 9:50am
• Air Canada flight 8274 – Vancouver to Kelowna October 6, 2025, 12:50 p.m.

Additionally, Northern Health outlined the following incidents in the Dawson Creek area:

• Dawson Creek, Rotary Manor, 2nd Floor, 1121 90th Avenue on October 5th, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Dawson Creek and District Hospital, 2nd floor inpatient unit: September 30th – October 4th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
• Dawson Creek and District Hospital, ultrasound department and waiting area on October 3rd, from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Dawson Creek and District Hospital, emergency room on October 6th, from 2:05 p.m. to 9:35 p.m.
• Primerica Client Appreciation Banquet, Dawson Creek on Oct 3rd, 2025.

Anyone experiencing measles symptoms, or who believes they’ve been exposed to the virus, is urged to contact their primary care provider.

To view the full case count update, look below.