Measles count continues steady climb in northeast B.C.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Eight new cases of measles have been reported by Northern Health in the latest provincial health report. 

In its latest report on December 11th, the BC Centre for Disease Control has reported nine new measles cases across the province since December 4th.

Eight of the nine cases were reported by Northern Health, including three new confirmed cases in northeast B.C. and four confirmed cases in the northern interior. There is also a net gain of one ‘probable’ case adding to Northern Health total, because the northeast has two extra ‘probable’ cases but the northern interior’s one ‘probable’ case at the last update no longer appears. 

A ‘probable’ case is defined as a person who is ill and recently travelled to an area of “known measles activity,” but a lab has not confirmed it is measles and there is no epidemiological link to a lab-confirmed case.

These cases bring Northern Health’s confirmed case count to 307, and probable count to 25. This means that the health authority’s 332 cases account for 81.4 per cent of the provincial total. 

The ninth B.C. patient – a confirmed case – was reported by Vancouver Coastal Health, specifically in Vancouver. 

To date, the BCCDC has reported a total of 382 confirmed cases and 26 ‘probable’ cases for a total of 408 cases of measles across B.C. in 2025.

There are currently seven active cases of measles in the province; four in northeast B.C., two in the northern interior and one in Vancouver.

There have been several recent measles exposure warnings issued by Northern Health in Fort St. John:

• 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.
• Enterprise, 10811 89th Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on November 24th.
• Fort. St. John Hospital emergency room from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on November 26th.
• Fort. St. John Hospital emergency room from November 27th at 11:45 p.m. to November 28th at 3:15 a.m.

Symptoms of measles may include a cough, fever, runny nose and red eyes that are sensitive to light. A red rash may also appear, lasting up to a week and spreading from the face and neck to the torso. 

Symptoms can start anywhere from seven to 12 days after a person is infected, and the virus can be easily transmitted through breathing, coughing and sneezing, as measles is a highly contagious, air-borne virus that spreads through small droplets. 

The virus can be dangerous, especially for those who are more vulnerable such as infants and the unvaccinated, as it results in one in 10 people being hospitalized and can cause serious complications like pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and even death.

If an individual believes they have measles, they are advised by the BCCDC to stay home, isolate themselves and seek testing from their primary care provider. 

To read Energeticcity.ca’s coverage of the measles outbreak in northeast B.C., visit our measles page.

Visit the BCCDC’s measles information page to find out more, or read the complete BCCDC report below.