Seventeen more measles cases reported in northeast B.C. in provincial update

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Almost 20 new measles cases have been reported in northeast B.C. as provincial numbers climb to almost 400. 

In a November 20th update report, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has shown 17 new measles cases this week, all reported by Northern Health in northeast B.C.

This is a significant increase from the six new cases reported in the BCCDC’s November 13th report.

These new cases bring the provincial total for measles cases reported in 2025 to 383, with 360 confirmed and 23 probable cases.

Northern Health currently accounts for 287 confirmed and 22 probable – or 80.7 per cent – of all cases, with four being considered currently active. 

Some 274 of those 287 cases are specifically in the northeast.

A case of measles is considered active if it is within the first four days of a rash forming on the infected person, 10 days after symptoms manifest or for 10 days after the case is confirmed and the individual is asymptomatic.

Symptoms include the aforementioned rash, a fever, cough, runny nose and red and inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light. 

The rash typically appears first on the face and neck, before spreading to the torso. 

According to Health Canada, individuals infected with measles can be contagious up to four days before symptoms begin to manifest, and the highly dangerous virus can be spread through droplets left in the air by coughing, sneezing and breathing. 

The virus is considered extremely dangerous by the BCCDC, with one in 10 infected persons requiring hospitalization. Measles can also lead to serious health complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling. 

Northern Health has reported on a variety of exposure locations across Fort St. John in recent weeks:

• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from 8:08 p.m. to 1:10 a.m. on October 26th to 27th.
• Beem Credit Union, 10344 100th Street, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on October 27th.
• Scotiabank, 9910 100th Street, from 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. on October 27th.
• Humpty’s Big Plate Diner, 11724 Alaska Road North, from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on October 27th.
• No Frills, 9831 98A Avenue, from 11:25 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.​ on October 27th.
• Packaging Depot Fort St. John, 6419 B Airport Road, 11:30 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. on October 27th.
• Mama Panda, 9608 100th Street, from 6 p.m. to 9:55 p.m. on October 27th.
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from 7:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on October 29th.
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 30th.
• The Fort St. John Curling Club from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 2nd.
• Fort St. John’s Ecole Central Elementary School from November 5th to 7th. 
• Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from 7:10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on November 4th.
• Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from midnight to 1 a.m. on November 5th.
• Olympus Cards And Collectibles, 9129 96a Street, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on November 12th.
• Walmart Supercentre, 9007 96a Street, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on November 14th.
• North Peace Leisure Pool, 9505 100th Street, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on November 14th.
• Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from 6:15 p.m. on November 14th to 2:35 a.m on November 15th.

Anyone who suspects they may have been exposed, or feels they are developing symptoms of the virus, is urged to contact their primary care provider to receive testing. 

To read the complete BCCDC report, see below.