Case of measles confirmed in Vancouver
Posted February 9, 2019 3:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Health officials have confirmed there’s been one case of measles in Vancouver.
Vancouver Coastal Health is insisting a public advisory isn’t necessary and there is no risk to the public. The case doesn’t seem to be linked to recent outbreaks in the United States.
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Carrie Stefanson with the health authority says there’s no reason to issue a public alert, although health officials do contact places an infected person has been if they are still contagious.
“There is no need to send out a public advisory at this stage because the person is no longer infectious,” she says. “The immediate workplace has been notified and places where that person may have went, but the infectious period has passed in that particular case, and there is only one confirmed case.”
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Stefanson says if anyone is concerned they are infected they should report to their doctor, but call ahead first so they can take precautions to isolate them and protect other patients.
Symptoms of measles include a fever, red eyes, cough, a runny nose, along with a rash. It is highly infectious and can spread through coughs and sneezes.
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People who have had the infection don’t need to be immunized. Children born after 1994 in B.C. got two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR), but people born before that time or outside of B.C. may not have recieved both doses. However, those born before 1970 are likely immune.
Vancouver Coastal Heatlh recommends anyone who isn’t sure on their immunization or disease history to be vaccinated.
– With files from Taran Parmar
