There are currently three active cases of measles in British Columbia, all in the northeast, according to the latest update from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
All six of the newly confirmed but inactive cases also stemmed from the region. One new probable case of the virus was identified in the northeast, with an additional likely case reported from the northern Interior of the Northern Health authority.
Combined, the additional cases bring the total number of reported cases since the beginning of 2025 in B.C. to 403, with 27 likely cases that could not be confirmed. Of the few hundred confirmed cases, 311 came out of the northeast, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Northern Health saw 82.4 per cent of all measles activity in the province, per the update for Jan. 15. Since 2026 began, all the reported cases were in this health authority.
The vast majority of cases were reported in children. For every ten confirmed instances of this highly contagious virus, seven were in kids and teenagers younger than 18 years old.
Eighty-three per cent of confirmed cases were in unimmunized individuals, and the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination status of seven per cent of people with confirmed cases is unknown. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control, Northern Health and most public health agencies agree the easiest way to prevent the spread of measles is to receive both shots of the MMR vaccine.
With widespread vaccination, measles’ continued escalation in the northeast can be managed, the health authority said. Immunizations can be arranged via local health units.
