Nine more measles cases reported by Northern Health in latest report

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has reported 10 more cases of measles across the province this week, nine in northern B.C. 

According to the BCCDC’s February 19th case count, Fraser Health reported one confirmed case, while the remaining nine were reported by Northern Health. Three of those cases were considered probable and six confirmed, bringing the health authority’s case count to as many as 373.

A measles case is classified as ‘confirmed’ if the virus undergoes lab confirmation, or is epidemiologically linked to a lab-confirmed case. 

A case can be considered ‘probable’ if it has not been confirmed in a lab or been linked to a lab-confirmed case, but the individual recently travelled to an area of known measles activity.

The six new Northern Health-reported cases originated from northeast B.C. and the northern interior. 

The BCCDC has reported 427 confirmed cases across B.C., and 30 probable cases, bringing the province’s total case count to as many as 457. Of this, Northern Health has reported 81.6 per cent of measles cases in B.C.

Symptoms of measles can include a fever, cough, runny nose and red, light-sensitive eyes, as well as a red rash which can last up to a week and small, white spots inside the mouth. 

The symptoms can appear seven to 12 days after exposure, and the virus spreads through the air when infected individuals breathe, cough or sneeze. The highly contagious disease results in approximately one in 10 patients requiring hospitalization, according to the BCCDC.

If an individual suspects they have been exposed to measles, they are advised by the BCCDC to isolate themselves and monitor for symptoms. If symptoms begin to manifest, the person is encouraged to seek medical treatment and testing from their primary care provider. 

As of February 20th, no measles-associated deaths have been reported in B.C. since the start of the outbreak. 

In the BCCDC’s February 12th report, only one case of measles was reported by the Fraser Health authority for the week prior. 

Keep up to date with Energeticcity.ca’s coverage of the outbreak in northeast B.C. by visiting our measles page.

To read the full case count update, see below.