All four new B.C. measles cases reported in northeast

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C — Measles cases continue to rise in the northeast as all four new cases have been reported by Northern Health. 

In its December 18th weekly update, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has announced four new cases of measles across the province. 

These cases, recorded by health authorities since the BCCDC’s December 11th report, bring the province’s total of confirmed cases to 386. 

All four of the new cases were reported by Northern Health in northeast B.C., bringing the health authority’s total up to 311 confirmed cases.

When combined with the 23 probable cases reported by Northern Health, the authority accounts for 334 cases, which is 81.5 per cent of the province’s total measles cases. 

 A ‘probable’ case is defined as a person who is ill and recently travelled to an area of “known measles activity,” but a lab has yet to confirm it is measles and there is no epidemiological link to a lab-confirmed case.

There is currently one active case of measles in the province, located in northeast B.C.

A case is considered “active” for the first four days after a rash appears or for 10 days after other symptoms start if the person doesn’t get a rash or if the BCCDC does not have information on their symptoms.

Symptoms include a cough, fever, red eyes that are sensitive to light and a runny nose. Individuals may also experience a red rash lasting up to a week and spreading from the face and neck to the upper body. 

Individuals can begin experiencing symptoms anywhere from seven to 12 days after they are infected and the virus is easily spread through air-borne droplets expelled through breathing, coughing and sneezing. 

The virus is extremely dangerous, particularly for more vulnerable members of the population, such as infants and unvaccinated individuals. 

It can result in one in 10 individuals being hospitalized with serious complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and death. 

There have been several recent measles exposure warnings issued by Northern Health in Fort St. John:

• 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.
• North Peace Cultural Centre, 10015 100 Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m on December 8th.

If an individual believes they may have measles, they are advised by the BCCDC to isolate themselves at home and seek testing from their primary care provider. 

To read Energeticcity.ca’s coverage of the measles outbreak in northeast B.C., visit our measles page.

To read the BCCDC’s December 18th report, see below.