YVR travellers may have been exposed to measles: BCCDC

The BC Centre for Disease Control says some travellers through Vancouver International Airport (YVR) may have been exposed to measles earlier this month.

The BCCDC explains that a passenger on an international flight from the Philippines to Toronto was carrying the measles virus and may have exposed others on the flight, or during their layover at YVR.

“The passenger arrived at Terminal M around 6 p.m. October 16 and left from gate B17 at 10:30 p.m. They did not visit any restaurants or stores,” said the BCCDC.

The infected passenger travelled on Philippine Airlines PR16 from Manila on Oct. 16, which arrived at YVR at 5:30 p.m. The passenger then departed YVR on WestJect WS724/Philippine Airline PR3032 at 10:35 p.m., arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 6:09 a.m. the following morning.

“The passenger then flew from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Fredericton International Airport in New Brunswick, departing at around 2 p.m. EDT on October 17. The passenger later tested positive for measles in New Brunswick. Public health officials in that province issued a local health advisory,” the BCCDC explained.

The CDC is warning that measles is a highly infectious virus that is transmitted in the air. Most people are immune to the virus due to immunization or neutral infection, however, those who are completely unvaccinated against the disease and children under one year of age are most at risk. The BCCDC explains those who were born before 1970 or people who had measles as a child are also immune.

Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinct rash which usually starts on the face and neck, spreads to the chest, arms and legs, and lasts about four to seven days.

“If you are not immune and were exposed to the measles virus, you could get measles. If infected, you will develop symptoms within seven to 21 days of being exposed. If you were exposed during travel through Vancouver International Airport on October 16, symptoms could develop as early as October 23 and as late as November 6,” the CDC stated.

“If you become ill and suspect you may have measles, call your healthcare provider and inform them that you may have measles, so that they can arrange to see you in a manner that avoids infecting others in the waiting room,” the centre added.