Warning over possible measles exposure at YVR issued

Some people who travelled through Vancouver International Airport (YVR) last week are being warned about a potential exposure to measles.

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says an infected passenger travelled on two flights, and was at YVR on Thursday, Nov. 23.

The first was Air Canada flight 79 from Dubai to Vancouver, departing the UAE at 2:17 a.m. local time and arriving in B.C. at 6:07 a.m. PT. The second was Air Canada flight 206 leaving Vancouver at 10:36 a.m. and arriving in Calgary at 1:06 p.m. MT.

The BCCDC says the passenger also spent time between gate D73 in the international terminal and gate C48 in the domestic terminal, where they waited to board the second flight.

Post-exposure prophylaxis with immunoglobulin

The person is said to have tested positive for the measles virus in Alberta, with officials there issuing an alert on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

“Measles is a highly infectious disease transmitted by airborne spread. Most people will be immune to measles due to prior immunization and others, especially older adults, may have had measles as a child and are immune. Individuals most at risk from measles are those who are completely unvaccinated against the disease including babies under one year of age,” the BCCDC explains.

The health agency says Wednesday, Nov. 29 is the last day for anyone who was on either flight/who believes they had contact with the infected person to receive post-exposure prophylaxis with immunoglobulin. This post-exposure treatment can help unvaccinated children, those who are immunocompromised, and those who are not immune to measles “minimize the risk” of the virus developing, the BCCDC says.

You can contact your local health unit and speak with a communicable disease nurse for more information.

Measles symptoms

The BCCDC says anyone who is infected and not immune to measles will likely develop symptoms within seven to 21 days of being exposed. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that first starts on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms, and legs, lasting about four to seven days.

Anyone who develops symptoms and suspects they may have measles is asked to call their health-care provider to arrange an appropriate meeting to minimize spread of the virus.

According to the BCCDC, people born after 1970 should have received two doses of a measles vaccine, which is often administered in the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shot or in combination with the chickenpox vaccine.

“Those who were born prior to 1970 are likely to be immune due to prior measles infection,” the centre says.