No new confirmed, but two new probable measles cases identified by Northern Health

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — No new confirmed measles cases have been found in the Northern Health region, but the number identified across the province continues to rise.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) latest case count update, five new confirmed cases of the virus have been identified in B.C. — four in the Fraser Health region and one in the Interior Health area.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases in 2025 in the province up to 136, up from 131 as of the July 28th update.

Despite the lack of new confirmed cases, two new probable cases were identified in the Northern Health region, bringing the number of probable cases in the region — and B.C. as a whole — up to 18.

That means the total case count could be as high as 154.

‘Probable’ cases are ones where there is “clinical illness without lab confirmation or epidemiological link to a lab-confirmed case, but with recent travel to an area of known measles activity.”

There are currently three active cases of measles in all of B.C. — two in Northern Health and one in Interior Health.

A case of measles is considered active if the patient is within four days of the onset of a rash, or 10 days after symptoms start if there is no rash. If no information is available upon the case being reported, the case is considered active for the next 10 days.

Northern Health has reported roughly 67 per cent of all confirmed measles cases in the province so far this year. The number of confirmed cases within Northern Health’s coverage area remains at 91.

Symptoms of measles include a fever, cough, runny nose and red, inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light and a rash which typically appears on the face and neck before spreading to the chest, arms and legs.

Residents who experience similar symptoms to those listed are encouraged to stay at home and connect with their care provider to get tested.

As of July 28th, there have been seven measles exposure locations reported in Fort St. John, with four in July:

• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 3:35 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. on July 13th. 
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 3:30 p.m. on July 4th and 2 a.m. on July 5th.
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 6:35 p.m. on July 1st and 12:03 a.m. on July 2nd. 
• The Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 4:35 a.m. on July 1st and 6:05 a.m. on July 2nd.

To read the BCCDC’s complete case count update, see below.