Latest news with #BCCDC
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles cases confirmed in Kamloops and Chilliwack; exposures reported on B.C. ferry
Measles cases are on the rise in B.C. It can lead to serious illness, particularly for young children and older adults and is preventable through immunization. Dr. Jia Hu, interim medical director of immunization programs and vaccine-preventable disease services at the BCCDC, answers our questions about the disease.
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
More measles cases and exposures confirmed in B.C.
Vials of Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine are seen in this file photo. B.C.'s measles caseload has risen again. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported a total of 63 confirmed measles cases in the province in its latest update Thursday afternoon. That's an increase of 14 from the 49 reported on Tuesday, with most of the latest cases detected in the Northern Health region. A total of 41 measles infections have been confirmed in Northern Health in 2025 so far, compared to single-digit totals in the mainland's other regional health authorities and none on Vancouver Island. The Northern Health total is considered an undercount, because 'some communities have a large disease burden, and not everyone is presenting to Northern Health for diagnosis and health care support,' according to the BCCDC. The latest update also included several new public exposure notices. Such notices are issued when health officials are unable to directly contact everyone who may have been exposed to a known case of the virus at a given place and time. The latest exposure notices include several flights and airports, as well as a spa and a sports complex in Kamloops. Newly published exposures include: June 17 Son Mai Spa, 459 Lansdowne St., Kamloops, from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. June 19 Andersen's Sewing, 213 - 141 Victoria St., Kamloops, from 1 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. June 21 McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, upper floor field, 1665 Island Pkwy., Kamloops, from 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. June 23 WestJet flight WS320 from Fort St. John to Vancouver, departed at 12:44 p.m. MDT, and arrived at 2:44 p.m. PDT WestJet flight WS332 from Vancouver to Kelowna, departed at 6:18 p.m. and arrived at 7:17 p.m. North Peace Regional Airport (YXJ) from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. MDT Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – Terminal B, from 2:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Kelowna International Airport (YLW) from 7:20 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. June 25 WestJet flight WS3540 from Kamloops to Calgary, departed at 5:38 a.m. PDT, and arrived at 8 a.m. MDT Kamloops Airport (YKA) from 4 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. Anyone who may have been exposed to measles should monitor for symptoms, which include 'fever, cough, runny nose, and red and inflamed eyes that are often sensitive to light,' according to the BCCDC. 'These symptoms are followed by a rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs.' Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through the air, and symptoms can develop between seven and 21 days after exposure. Those who are completely unvaccinated against the virus – including children under one year old – are at greatest risk. Most people in Canada are immune to measles due to vaccination or previous infection. However, the prevalence of the disease has been increasing in recent years as vaccination rates have dropped. In B.C., the vaccination rate among seven-year-olds was 72.4 per cent in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. That's down from a rate of 90.9 per cent a decade earlier. On Wednesday, Premier David Eby described this year's measles surge as 'the sadly predictable outcome' of the 'recklessness' of politicians who question vaccine safety. 'I will encourage all British Columbians to ensure that they are vaccinated,' Eby said. 'Measles is no joke. It kills kids. It's a preventable disease, and we don't want that to be the story of the summer for our province.'
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles cases confirmed in Kamloops, Chilliwack: B.C. health officials
The number of measles cases in British Columbia as a whole continues to grow, with the Interior Health Authority announcing the region's first confirmed case of the year. The confirmed case in Kamloops, was announced by the authority on Tuesday. Dr. Sanaz Vaseghi, a medical officer with Interior Health, said it's not clear how the person was exposed to measles, which makes it more difficult to determine who else in the Kamloops area may have it. The risk to the broader public is considered low, but Vaseghi urged anyone who is not adequately immunized to get vaccinated. So far this year, 49 measles cases have been reported in B.C., according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). Interior Health said it is following up directly with people who are known to have been exposed to the case in Kamloops. It shared a list of locations visited by the infected person on June 16 between noon and 11:35 p.m. and on June 18 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The list includes a Denny's restaurant, a Shoppers Drug Mart, and the Aberdeen Mall. Fraser Health said measles infections have been confirmed in three unvaccinated Chilliwack residents since Friday and the cases appear to have been acquired locally. It said members of the public may have been exposed to measles at three locations in Chilliwack, including a Walmart and Mark's on June 16, and a barber shop on June 18. WATCH | Measles cases reported in northern B.C.: Most of the confirmed measles cases in the province have been reported in the Northern Health authority, according to the BCCDC. A bulletin from Northern Health earlier this month said it had identified "multiple lab-confirmed cases" of measles in the community of Wonowon, about 90 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John. In addition to the confirmed cases in Chilliwack and Kamloops, the BCCDC says that there was a possible measles exposure at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, on June 20 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Officials say there may have been exposures on the 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, and the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. sailings from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen that day. Health authorities are also warning of a possible exposure at the Hot and Cold Café in Victoria on June 20, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Another potential exposure was reported at the Marriott Civic Autograph Hotel in Surrey on June 20 between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., and on June 21 between 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Measles is a highly infectious disease with airborne transmission, and the health authorities said people who have never had the infection or haven't received two doses of vaccine are at higher risk of falling ill. They said symptoms such as fever, dry cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads rapidly down to the rest of the body can develop between seven and 21 days after exposure. Measles can cause complications like pneumonia and swelling of the brain and may lead to death, the health authorities said.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Measles cases confirmed in Kamloops, Chilliwack: B.C. health officials
The number of measles cases in British Columbia as a whole continues to grow, with the Interior Health Authority announcing the region's first confirmed case of the year. The confirmed case in Kamloops, was announced by the authority on Tuesday. Dr. Sanaz Vaseghi, a medical officer with Interior Health, said it's not clear how the person was exposed to measles, which makes it more difficult to determine who else in the Kamloops area may have it. The risk to the broader public is considered low, but Vaseghi urged anyone who is not adequately immunized to get vaccinated. So far this year, 49 measles cases have been reported in B.C., according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). Interior Health said it is following up directly with people who are known to have been exposed to the case in Kamloops. It shared a list of locations visited by the infected person on June 16 between noon and 11:35 p.m. and on June 18 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The list includes a Denny's restaurant, a Shoppers Drug Mart, and the Aberdeen Mall. Fraser Health said measles infections have been confirmed in three unvaccinated Chilliwack residents since Friday and the cases appear to have been acquired locally. It said members of the public may have been exposed to measles at three locations in Chilliwack, including a Walmart and Mark's on June 16, and a barber shop on June 18. 18 cases of measles reported in northern B.C., officials say 7 days ago Duration 0:38 Most of the confirmed measles cases in the province have been reported in the Northern Health authority, according to the BCCDC. A bulletin from Northern Health earlier this month said it had identified "multiple lab-confirmed cases" of measles in the community of Wonowon, about 90 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John. In addition to the confirmed cases in Chilliwack and Kamloops, the BCCDC says that there was a possible measles exposure at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, on June 20 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Officials say there may have been exposures on the 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, and the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. sailings from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen that day. Health authorities are also warning of a possible exposure at the Hot and Cold Café in Victoria on June 20, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Another potential exposure was reported at the Marriott Civic Autograph Hotel in Surrey on June 20 between 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., and on June 21 between 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Measles is a highly infectious disease with airborne transmission, and the health authorities said people who have never had the infection or haven't received two doses of vaccine are at higher risk of falling ill. They said symptoms such as fever, dry cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads rapidly down to the rest of the body can develop between seven and 21 days after exposure. Measles can cause complications like pneumonia and swelling of the brain and may lead to death, the health authorities said.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
What to Know About Tick-Borne Illnesses
Vancouver Watch On CTV Morning Live, Dr. Muhammed Morshed of the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory explains what to know about tick-borne illnesses.
