Monday April 15, 2019 ~ GREATER VICTORIA
~ West Shore Voice News
UPDATE 9 pm April 15, 2019: Island Health has cancelled their earlier exposure advisory (re Butterfly Gardens, Walmart Uptown, and Selkirk Montessori), saying the suspected measles case produced negative test results. Editor’s Note: Sorry, we’re just the messenger. Perhaps in future Island Health will await test results before issuing an alert.
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Island Health has today released another new potential measles exposure in the South Island area. If you were at Butterfly Gardens in Brentwood Bay on Wednesday April 10 (3 to 5 pm), or Walmart at Uptown Centre on Thursday April 11 (2 to 5:30 pm) or Friday April 12 (2 to 5:30 pm), you may have been exposed, says Island Health.
Individuals who were at these locations during the specified dates and time are asked to monitor symptoms for 21 days after the exposure date. Those who are born after 1970 and have never had the measles infection, or who did not have two doses of vaccine are at highest risk of measles, and Island Health encourages them to get fully immunized. These individuals should contact their local public health unit, family doctor, pharmacy or local travel clinic regarding immunization. Measles immunization is free for everyone.
As of April 12, there were six confirmed cases of measles in the South Island area.
Island Health is contacting families at Selkirk Montessori School advising that they may have been exposed to measles during the week of April 8-12, 2019. “We are asking families of children who have not received any MMR or measles containing vaccine to contact the Island Health Communicable Disease unit at 250-388-2225 as soon as possible for additional guidance if they have not already been contacted,” stated Island Health.
Island Health Medical Health Officer, Dr. Dee Hoyano, has instructed unvaccinated children at Selkirk Montessori School to not attend school beginning today, April 15, 2019 and that they not attend any congregated settings until after May 3, 2019. The reason for this is to prevent further transmission of measles, as symptoms of measles infection can take up to 21 days to appear, it is highly contagious, and people can transmit the disease before clear symptoms occur. We appreciate everybody’s cooperation in making every effort they can to protect their community.
Symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, diarrhea and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the chest.
If you develop symptoms, please contact your health care provider before you visit them so they can take precautions to prevent transmission of measles to others.
Call 8-1-1 for information any time, visit healthlinkbc.ca or immunizebc.ca/measles .
Call our measles information line for services in areas around Vancouver Island:
South Island: 250-544-7676 ext. 27545
Nanaimo/Ladysmith/Gabriola: 250-755-3388
Courtenay/Comox Valley: 250-331-8599
Campbell River and area: 250-850-2120
Mt. Waddington/Port Hardy: 250-902-6079.