Residents of Northeast BC are being advised that Public Health is reporting a new potential measles exposure location in Fort St. John.
Northern Health said there was a possible exposure at the Fort St. John Hospital Emergency Department on August 28 from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am the following day.
On Thursday, the BC Centre for Disease Control confirmed 18 new cases of measles across British Columbia, all of which have come from the Northern Health region.
The BC CDC said it brings the total of cases to 171 in the region, so far in 2025. Eight cases in Northern BC are currently considered to be active ones. 76 per cent of all cases across the province have come from Northern BC.
Vaccination rates for measles decreased in British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to deputy provincial health officer Dr. Martin Lavoie.
Symptoms:
- Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red and inflamed eyes that are often sensitive to light. These symptoms are followed by a rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs. The rash lasts about 4 to 7 days. There may also be small white spots inside the mouth.
- Symptoms can start between 7 and 21 days after a person is infected with the measles virus.
- Measles is a serious illness that can also lead to complications including pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and even death.
Those who have been exposed to the measles are being asked to stay home and self-isolate for at least four days after a rash first appears.
Medical experts say the best way to protect yourself if you have been exposed to measles is to get vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. You can contact your local health unit to schedule a measles vaccination appointment.