Warning of new measles exposure locations in Fort St. John

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Fort St. John Hospital front entrance in daylight. — Two of the new measles exposures were at the Fort St. John Hospital ER. (file)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — People in Fort St. John were once again exposed to measles in the community amid an outbreak in northeast B.C.

Northern Health has issued a warning that the virus was present at three new times around the city:

Enterprise, 10811 89th Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on November 24th.
Fort. St. John Hospital emergency room from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on November 26th.
Fort. St. John Hospital emergency room from November 27th at 11:45 p.m. to November 28th at 3:15 a.m.

Anyone who was in those locations should monitor for symptoms of measles, which include coughing, runny nose, fever, eyes that are sensitive to light and a rash on the face and neck which spreads to the torso.

There have been other exposure locations reported around Fort St. John in months past, including a slew in November:

The Fort St. John Curling Club from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 2nd.
Fort St. John’s Ecole Central Elementary School from November 5th to 7th.
Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from 7:10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on November 4th.
Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from midnight to 1 a.m. on November 5th.
Olympus Cards And Collectibles, 9129 96a Street, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on November 12th.
Walmart Supercentre, 9007 96a Street, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on November 14th.
North Peace Leisure Pool, 9505 100th Street, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on November 14th.
Fort St. John Hospital emergency room from 6:15 p.m. on November 14th to 2:35 a.m on November 15th.

People who have been exposed to measles could catch the virus from droplets in the air, and are infectious even before they develop symptoms.

The illness can be dangerous, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), which reports almost one in 10 people are hospitalized with complications like swelling of the brain or pneumonia.

Those who are especially vulnerable include those who are unvaccinated and infants.

This all comes amid an outbreak of measles in Canada, with 278 of B.C.’s 389 cases being confirmed in the northeast as of November 27th.

Anyone who believes they could have measles is urged to contact their primary care provider.

Keep up to date with Energeticcity.ca‘s coverage of the measles outbreak in northeast B.C. here.