BCCDC reports seven new measles cases

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has reported seven new confirmed measles cases in the Northern Health area.

The centre’s latest case count update shows the number of confirmed cases in the region has risen to 188, up from 181 as of Monday, September 8th.

Those seven cases are the only new ones identified in the province, meaning the total number of confirmed cases now sits at 257. Northern Health makes up roughly 73 per cent of those cases.

No new probable cases were reported, meaning the number of probable cases across the entire province so far this year remains at 18, 17 of which were reported by Northern Health. That means the total case count for the year could be as high as 275.

Regarding active cases, there are currently just two: one in the Northern Health region and another in the Fraser Health area. That’s a sharp decline from the seven active cases reported on Monday.

Cases are considered active for the first four days after a rash manifests, the first 10 days after other symptoms manifest if there’s no rash, or for the first 10 days after being confirmed if the case is asymptomatic.

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose and red or inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light.

Additional symptoms can include a rash, which will start on the face and neck and spread to the arms, chest and legs over around four to seven days.

Symptoms can start between seven and 21 days after exposure to the virus. Severe cases of measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and even death.

Late last month, Northern Health identified a new potential exposure incident for the virus at the Fort St. John Hospital’s emergency room between 9 p.m. on Thursday, August 28th and 1 a.m. on Friday, August 29th.

Anyone who believes they have measles is urged to contact their primary care provider to book a test.

To view the full case count update, look below.