Northern Health identifies new measles exposure incident at Fort St. John Hospital

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Northern Health is warning residents of a new measles exposure incident in Fort St. John.

The health authority posted to Facebook at 1:13 p.m. on Friday, October 31st, warning of a new potential measles exposure incident at the Fort St. John Hospital’s emergency department and waiting room.

Anyone who attended the department or waiting room on October 26th or 27th from 8:08 p.m. to 1:10 a.m. may have been exposed to the virus.

This comes the day after the BC Centre for Disease Control’s latest case count update, showing 12 new confirmed cases of measles in the northeast, including two ‘active’ cases.

Cases are considered to be active for the first four days after a rash forms, the first 10 days after other symptoms manifest or the first 10 days after being confirmed if the case is asymptomatic.

Those other symptoms include runny nose, fever, a cough and red, inflamed eyes that are sensitive to light. The rash typically starts on the neck or face before spreading across the torso.

Measles is an extremely serious disease; one in 10 people who contract it end up hospitalized, and it can lead to serious health complications like pneumonia and swelling in the brain. It can also be fatal.

Anyone who is experiencing measles symptoms or who believes they’ve been exposed to the virus is urged to contact their primary care provider and book a test.