Sixteen new measles cases reported for Northern Health

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The latest measles case count update shows 16 new confirmed cases in the Northern Health region.

The new update — shared by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) on August 25th — shows there are 159 confirmed cases of the virus in the region, up from 143 as of the previous update on August 21st.

That means the total number of cases in Northern Health’s coverage area could be as high as 175, when accounting for the 16 ‘probable’ cases reported in the region.

Outside of the north, two more new confirmed cases were identified, both in the Fraser Health region, bringing its confirmed case total up to 26. 

The number of confirmed cases elsewhere remains unchanged from August 21st, with 16 cases reported by Interior Health, 10 by Vancouver Coastal Health and four by Island Health.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases reported in B.C. overall so far this year to 215, up from 197. Northern Health represents roughly 74 per cent of all confirmed measles cases in the province.

There are also nine ‘active’ cases in B.C. at the moment, up from just one active case on August 21st. 

The BCCDC considers cases ‘active’ for the first four days after a rash appears, the first 10 days after other symptoms manifest if there’s no rash, or the first 10 days after being reported for asymptomatic cases.

Measles is a very serious disease; according to the BCCDC, one in ten cases leads to hospitalization, and it can cause health complications like pneumonia.

Symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose and red, inflamed eyes which are sensitive to light, and a rash which starts on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs.

Anyone who believes they might have contracted measles should contact their primary care provider in order to book a test for the virus.

Last week, Northern Health issued a warning to people who were in attendance at the Fort St. John Hospital emergency department between 1:50 p.m. and 4:20 p.m., saying they may have been exposed to the virus.

To view the full case count update, look below.