Of the 32 cases of measles in BC, 20 of those are in the Northeast.
That’s the message from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
This, says the BCCDC, only represents a subset of the number of actual cases, as some communities have a much larger disease burden, and not everyone is going to Northern Health for diagnosis and health care.
Northern Health has identified multiple lab-confirmed cases of measles in Wonowon, a small community, located approximately 89 km Northwest of Fort St. John, but have also identified cases in Fort St. John itself.
According to Northern Health, it appears that the initial case was “travel-acquired,” but now the disease is circulating in the community. “Members of the public in Wonowon and neighbouring communities, including Fort St. John, may have been exposed in various settings in the community since late May,” says a release from BCCDC. “In addition, members of the public may have been exposed at the Fort St. John Hospital emergency waiting area on June 2 between the hours of midnight and 4 am.”
Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease. Measles was considered eradicated in Canada in 1998, and since then, vaccine rates have dropped. At the time, about 95 percent of the population was estimated to have taken the vaccine, but that rate has fallen to 90.2 percent of children under two as of 2017, while only 87 percent of seven year olds had their booster shot. Because measles is so contagious, the target rate is 95 percent of people immunized to prevent the spread of the disease.
As well, over time, people who have been vaccinated become more and more susceptible to the disease, meaning some older adults who have previously been vaccinated may be at risk. “Those who may have been exposed and develop symptoms should seek medical attention,” says the BCCDC. “Please call first before going to your primary care provider’s office, urgent care or emergency department so appropriate precautions can be taken.”
That said, most people in Canada will be immune to measles due to prior immunization or previous infection. “If someone is not immune to measles and gets exposed, they may develop symptoms between seven and 21 days after the exposure. Initial symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A rash typically develops a few days later, beginning on the face and then spreading down the body. Measles can be a serious illness with complications that require hospitalization.”
If you develop measle-like symptoms, and are feeling well enough, you can simply self-isolate. Stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least four days after the rash first appears. Do not go to work, school, childcare or public places.
Other things you can do is wash your hands regularly, and cough or sneeze into a tissue or sleeve rather than your hands, as it is an airborne disease.
If you experience severe symptoms (such as difficulty breathing, confusion, persistent high fever, dehydration, or complications), call ahead before visiting your healthcare provider or emergency department. This allows healthcare staff to prepare and prevent further spread of infection. “Do NOT visit the hospital unless seriously ill.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
