30 measles cases reported in B.C. this year

An outbreak of the measles in a remote, northern B.C. community has reached 18 reported cases.

On Saturday, Northern Health said multiple lab-confirmed cases of measles had been confirmed in Wonowon, about 89 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John, B.C.

It notes the first case appears to have been travel-related but now says the virus has spread and has been circulating in the area since late May.

In an update Monday, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) confirmed that the health authority has reported 18 cases.

It says this brings the provincial total this year to 30 cases.

The Vancouver Coastal Health region has had eight reported cases, while Fraser Health has had four.

Northern Health says residents may have been exposed in several neighbouring communities, including Fort St. John, adding one potential point of contact took place at the city’s hospital emergency room between midnight and 4 a.m. on June 2.

Measles is a highly infectious disease transmitted by airborne spread, with initial symptoms that include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

A rash often develops a few days later, beginning on the face and then spreading down the body.

Northern Health is warning people who are experiencing these symptoms to self-isolate for at least four days to prevent the spread.

For anyone who has serious symptoms, the health authority is asking people to call ahead before visiting their local health care provider or emergency department.

Ontario reported 74 new measles cases over the last week as of Thursday, bringing the total number of people in the province who have fallen ill to 2,083 since October.