Four active measles cases were reported in the northeast, where the number of vaccines administered by Northern Health more than doubled compared to last year.
These cases, in addition to the two reported in the northern interior region – which includes Prince George – bring Northern Health’s total active case count to six. A case of the highly contagious virus was also reported in Vancouver, bringing the provincial total count to seven.
The number of active cases in the province more than doubled since last week’s update from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, who said Northern Health homed all three active cases as of Dec. 4.
Three inactive cases were confirmed in the region via lab tests. Alternatively, they may have been “epidemiologically linked to a lab-confirmed case” and reported by the provincial disease hub. Epidemiologically linking cases means the infected person was confirmed to have been exposed to measles – be it one of several exposures last month out of the Fort St John Hospital’s emergency department or direct contact with an ill person.
The region has also reported two new probable cases. These are instances where a person is showing symptoms and was in a location where measles is likely to have been present, but refused to undergo lab testing.
“(The) Peace River north (local health authority) has seen the most measles exposure events for all location types,” said Northern Health in an update on the virus’ spread for their board of directors.
In the northern part of the region, 25 exposures occurred in short-term medical clinics, like an emergency room or an urgent care clinic. 30 were within the community and 36 exposures occurred in north Peace schools.
As exposures continue being reported in the northeast, the health authority said vaccination rates boosted in the area. A 202 per cent increase in vaccinations was reported in October of this year, when compared to last, according to Northern Health.
Receiving both doses of a measles-mumps-rubella is the easiest way to prevent the virus, according to Northern Health and the centre. Only six per cent of cases in the province this year were in fully vaccinated individuals, per the provincial tracker.
