Only one active case of measles remains in northeastern B.C., where the province’s sole case was confirmed by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
In addition to this singular active carrier, four new cases were confirmed in the region and two cases’ fate were determined as they were removed from the centre’s “probable” category. Once again, the new measles activity in the northeast were the only new additions.
With the Holiday season, and all the accompanying gatherings, a week away, residents are being reminded to practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of measles, and other contagious diseases.
“Watch for any kind of signs and get checked and get assessed as you need it,” explained Dr. Jong Kim, the chief medical officer at the Northern Health Authority, emphasizing the importance of clean hands.
“This will ensure you’re protecting your family members, as well as yourself during travels.”
Kim said two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine provide near-total protection against measles. For parents with children under 12 months old—who are too young to receive their first dose—he said ensuring the surrounding group is vaccinated and not at risk of carrying the highly contagious virus is the best protection.
“One of the ways to protect those too young to be immunized is actually to immunize around those babies, who can be immunized,” the doctor explained. “There is a wall of protection.”
Most people confirmed to have measles in B.C. this year were unvaccinated, according to the provincial tracker. Only 5 per cent of the 386 total cases were in fully immunized individuals. Vaccination status is unknown for nine people, and three others were born before 1970 and do not require the vaccine due to presumed childhood exposure.
Other illnesses are also spreading widely this year, including the H3N2 flu strain—which is included in this year’s flu shot. According to Northern Health, previous years’ flu shots did not provide protection against H3N2.
