Residents who were in the emergency department of the Fort St John Hospital on the afternoon of July 13 from 3:35 to 6:05 may have been exposed to measles.
Northern Health advised anyone who was in the emergency department at those times to monitor for symptoms – fever, runny nose, and red eyes may be a patient’s early symptom before the red, itchy rash appears on their face and neck.
Once the rash appears, a patient’s case is considered active for four days, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control – if they test positive for measles and do not get the rash, the patient is considered to have an active case for ten days from the onset of those initial symptoms.
The regional health authority had 83 of the total confirmed 122 cases of measles in the province this year – as of the morning of July 21, the only active case of measles provincially is in Northern Health.
Most public health agencies in Canada, including Northern Health and the B.C.C.D.C., said immunization is the most effective form of protection against measles. British Columbians can access their vaccination records via Health Gateway.
Anyone who has been exposed to measles is encouraged to contact their local health unit.
