Canada Day celebrations brought more than just good vibes to the region, with Northern Health confirming two new measles exposures to the city.
Northern Health said both cases were in the emergency department of the Fort St John Hospital in the early morning from 4:35 to 6:05 on July 1, then, nearly 12 hours later, the second risk window opened at 6:35 p.m. and closed at 12:03 a.m. on July 2.
Health experts have advised anyone who was in the emergency department at those times to monitor for symptoms.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, early symptoms of measles include fever and sensitivity to light, among others.
“These symptoms are followed by a rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs,” said the centre for disease control.
Symptoms may present themselves seven to 21 days after infection and if a person is infected, they can be at risk of complications – including death.
Northern Health is responsible for 71 of the 99 reported cases of measles in the province and Fort St John saw a number of different exposure locations in the city during the month of June – including one in the emergency department on June 23.
Immunity to the highly contagious disease is possible and can be administered as two shots of its vaccine. Unvaccinated people, including children under one-year-old who are too young for the jab, are the most likely to be infected.
The centre said anyone who believes they contracted the disease should call their healthcare provider in advance, so the clinic has time to prepare and will not put any other patients at risk.
