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CBC
12-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Measles spread 'like wildfire' among unvaccinated children in northeast B.C., health officer says
A pocket of unvaccinated children in northeast B.C. allowed cases of measles in the region to spread "like wildfire," says B.C.'s deputy provincial health officer, Dr. Martin Lavoie. He made the remarks during a provincial update on the disease that has seen multiple exposures reported in and around Fort St. John, including at an elementary school, emergency room and prenatal clinic. "If the virus finds people who are not immunized, it will start infecting," Lavoie said during the July 10 presentation given to media. Over the past weeks, he added, "the virus has found communities or pockets of population that are large enough in numbers to allow the virus to all of a sudden, I would say, explode or start like a wildfire ... and then it takes some time before it dies off and runs its course." The risks of allowing it to spread, he said, included serious disease or even death. 10 hospitalized, the majority infected children According to provincial numbers, there is currently just one case of measles still active in the province. But as of July 8, 10 people were hospitalized due to the virus, with a total of 102 confirmed cases provincewide this year. That's the highest number in more than a decade, though still significantly less than a 2014 outbreak centred around B.C.'s Fraser Valley that resulted in 344 confirmed cases. In that case, the epicentre of the disease was at a school where about 360 students from kindergarten to grade 12 were infected, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Lavoie said the outbreak in northeast B.C. had followed a similar pattern, with the first case believed to be travel-related. From there, an exposure was reported at an elementary school in the community of Wonowon, around 90 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John. Subsequent exposures were then reported at shops and businesses, as well as at Fort St. John's emergency room and prenatal clinic for pregnant mothers. The majority of those infected were under 18, provincial data shows, making up 70 per cent of known infections. The actual number is likely higher, Lavoie said, as many cases are known to go unreported. Six of the 10 confirmed hospitalization cases in B.C. are located in Northern Health, with one in each of the four other health regions. Lavoie said because the population of northeast B.C. is smaller than the Fraser Valley, he did not expect total infections to climb as high as they had in 2014, though he warned there was still a risk of travel-related infections bringing it to other locations. He also noted that the virus was able to spread so successfully because it has been roughly 20 years since measles were in the region in any significant numbers, so there was an entire generation of unvaccinated people ready to be infected. Northern Health's chief medical health officer, Dr. Jong Kim, said the bulk of the infections had occurred in known "under-immunized, vulnerable communities," but he hoped the peak of infection had already been seen, with cases now on the decline. He also said outreach efforts were underway to communities in the region that are deemed to be most at risk of future outbreaks. According to the local school district, the school where the initial measles outbreak took place is 90 per cent Russian or German-speaking, in an area with religious communities who may not undergo regular vaccine schedules. Lavoie said B.C.'s immunization rate of about 84 per cent was quite good but not perfect, while B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said getting immunized is the best thing B.C. residents can do to protect themselves and others. Alberta experiencing highest per-capita measles rate in North America B.C. released its latest case figures one day after Alberta had reported 1,230 infections since March. While Ontario has reported the highest absolute number of cases with 2,244 confirmed infections since October, Alberta leads not only Canada, but also North America on a per-capita basis. Lavoie said his office isn't concerned that B.C. could be facing a similar situation. WATCH | The risks of measles during pregnancy: Health experts warn of measles risks during pregnancy 1 month ago Duration 1:55 Measles cases are rising in Ontario, putting pregnant people and their babies at risk. Experts are calling for better prenatal screening for measles antibodies and urging vaccination before pregnancy. "So we are very close to Alberta, of course, so they could be a source [of measles] for us as people travel back and forth," he said. "We think our coverage rates are actually not in a bad place. I said they were good, not perfect, so I would doubt we would see something that big." Lavoie also acknowledged the high case count in Ontario and urged British Columbians to protect themselves. Ontario reported last Thursday that an eighth infant had been born with congenital measles since the outbreak began last fall. Infants can contract congenital measles in the womb through their mothers who are not vaccinated, resulting in severe complications, including inflammation of the brain and death. The latest data in Ontario shows 48 pregnant people have been infected with measles, and Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, announced in early June that an infant born prematurely and infected with measles in southwestern Ontario had died. Dr. Jennifer Vines, public health physician at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said during Thursday's update that B.C. has not yet seen such a case. "But we are preparing for it by engaging pregnancy experts to prepare for everything we need to know on how to manage measles in pregnancy … so we can be prepared for this unfortunate possibility," Vines said. Vines said the Ontario congenital cases reinforce the importance of everybody getting vaccinated, "but in particular, anyone who is pregnant, who knows they are susceptible to measles, getting quick follow-up if they think they have had a measles exposure, or seeking advice right away from their pregnancy provider." Lavoie said people who are pregnant and infants, including children less than 12 months old, are at risk of being infected with measles. Pregnant women and young children under the age of five also fall among the groups with a higher risk of complications and death.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Alberta facing difficulties finding a chief medical officer of health
Edmonton Watch Experts say the province's history of turning its back on health leaders may make the chief medical officer of health a hard role to fill permanently. CTV News Edmonton's Nicole Weisberg has more.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
N.W.T.'s top doctor on measles risk, and being 'a victim of our own success' as vaccination rates drop
Social Sharing The office of the chief public health officer in the N.W.T. has issued potential exposure notices for two Yellowknife businesses and three schools after confirming a case of measles in the city this past weekend. The virus is spreading across the country, with more than a thousand cases reported so far, over 200 of which are in Alberta. Dr. Kami Kandola, the N.W.T.'s chief public health officer, spoke with CBC's Trailbreaker host Hilary Bird Tuesday morning about the risks and what people can do to stay safe. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. When did this case of measles first come to your attention? We were alerted about the confirmed case of measles on Saturday, May 3rd, and on May 4th we gathered all the exposure locations and prepared letters for the schools and contacted the schools and one of the businesses before we launched a formal public health advisory and that was launched on Monday. Do you have any sense of how this person got the virus? This was linked to a confirmed case through a flight. OK, so they were on a flight that a person in another part of the country had confirmed a measles case? Exactly. Do you know if this person was vaccinated? This person did not have protection against measles, so that put that particular individual at risk. And of concern for myself is that we've seen a decline in measles uptake in our young children. In 2019 almost 90 per cent of two-year-olds had at least one measles-containing vaccine and that had dropped down to about 82 per cent in 2024. You need about 95 per cent coverage to have what we call herd immunity. So we're far below that target, which makes us susceptible when we have an introduction of measles. If someone has been vaccinated and they were at one of these exposure sites, what is the likelihood that they could get measles? If someone has immunity to measles, either by getting two doses of a documented measles-containing vaccine or contracting measles, they have excellent, almost 100 per cent, protection against acquiring measles through an exposure. And what about if they weren't vaccinated? Unfortunately, measles is airborne. It is highly contagious and it can be suspended in the air two hours after someone with measles leaves that room. So if someone was exposed to measles and was not protected, nine out of 10 people in that situation end up getting measles. So this is why it is really important that people who are not protected stay home. Call 811 or Yellowknife public health for further guidance. But stay home until they receive further instruction. In the document that you released yesterday, you have asked some people to isolate at home. Is that who you're asking to isolate? People who are unvaccinated who may have been exposed? It's two types of people [who we're asking to isolate]. For the people who have no history of vaccination, who never received a vaccine, that's a really small number of people, but they're very susceptible to measles. But there's another group of people who think they were vaccinated but they just can't find their records. They still both have to stay home until they have documented proof that they've either received the vaccine or had measles itself. Typically anyone who got their vaccines in Northwest Territories, we would be able to quickly look in the electronic medical record and check their vaccination status. But for those who received their vaccines outside of the N.W.T., they need to contact their health-care providers or their clinics and get a record to document that they received the vaccines. And I feel that the vast majority of people fall in that category. They know they've received the vaccine, they just don't have the documentation. So what I'm urging people in Northwest Territories, we know there's been over 1,000 cases of measles in Canada and in multiple provinces. Please don't wait until you're exposed to try to figure out if you have been vaccinated or not. Individuals who know they got the vaccine, know they had measles and they have proof, they can go to school and work. Can you talk to us about the symptoms of measles? So measles is a virus. Once you're exposed, within 10 to 14 days, you'll wake up and won't feel well. It seems almost like a cold or flu-like symptoms. You'll develop a cough, you'll have a runny nose and then you also have pink watery eyes. Some people, if you look into the cheeks, it looks like they have grains of salt stuck on their cheeks or under their lip. If you see that, only the measles virus provides that. Usually within four days you'll wake up and have a blotchy rash. It will start from your head and travel down your body to your arms and legs and all those symptoms together. When you get those symptoms, when you get sick, you should be staying at home. Call 811. Don't go to the ER or the health centre unless you are experiencing worsening symptoms and your health is compromised, then call 911. What is the likelihood that unvaccinated people would recover from a virus like measles? It depends. The highest risk is to those that are immunocompromised in terms of severe complications. So by and large, people are immunocompetent and not in high-risk category — they could have a miserable time with measles, but they may not go on to develop severe complications. Children, infants, pregnant people are at higher risk for severe complications. It is highly preventable with a vaccine, but once you're exposed and you are not protected, most people will feel miserable but will recover. But some people can go on and develop serious complications like pneumonia, ear infections and what is of concern, inflammation of the brain. If someone is listening to this who isn't vaccinated, where can they go to get vaccinated if they'd like to? All across N.W.T. there are health centres and public health clinics that provide measles-containing vaccine, in the public health clinics in Inuvik and in Hay River, also in Yellowknife. And then there's community health centres elsewhere for those who have not been exposed but want to get vaccinated. Right now, Yellowknife Public Health is focusing on individuals who are exposed, looking at vaccine records, but you can still call Yellowknife and book an appointment if you're not exposed to update your measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. If someone is vaccinated, how worried should they be during this time here in Yellowknife? If you're doubly vaccinated, you can rest assured that you have almost 100 per cent chance of being protected by measles. There have been rare, rare cases of people who are double vaccinated and develop measles, but they tend not to have a very severe case of measles and it's less transmissible to other people. I'm not concerned for that population. If you're ill, just stay home just in case you're one of those very rare people who end up getting measles even though you're double vaccinated. But this is a very rare scenario. By and large, it's those who are not vaccinated that's fuelling the measles outbreak across Canada. Vaccination rates for children under two years old have been dropping here. Why do you think that is? There is a lot of vaccine fatigue, vaccine hesitancy. People went through COVID, young parents growing up, they have never seen measles. So we've been a victim of our own success. So if you don't see measles and you don't know how sick your child could be and the potential serious complications you get with measles, you tend to rest on other people getting the vaccine to protect you. But unfortunately that's not working. We can't rely on herd immunity or a large number of people being vaccinated. So the more people that don't get vaccinated, the more at risk you or your children are. For people who were born before 1970, what should they be doing? Before 1970, we didn't really have an effective measles-containing vaccine so most adults in that age, they acquired measles naturally. So once you get measles, you're protected for life. So our expectation is anyone born before 1970 would have already acquired measles naturally. People born before 1970, would be considered adequately immunized but if they are traveling to an area that has high levels of measles, they should get at least one dose of measles-containing a vaccine.
