Home Island Health Six cases of measles confirmed on Vancouver Island

Six cases of measles confirmed on Vancouver Island [April 10]

Spread of measles continues in the region.

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Measles rash
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Wednesday, April 10, 2019 ~ GREATER VICTORIA

~ West Shore Voice News

Island Health has confirmed one new case of measles infection on the South Island today, April 10. This brings the total number of measles cases in the South Island area to six.

And they are alerting individuals that they may have been exposed to measles if they visited or passed through the building common spaces, including washrooms, at the Royal Oak Shopping Centre at 4475 Viewmont Avenue in Saanich on Tuesday March 26 and/or Wednesday March 27 between 8:30 am and 7:30 pm. Read the full April 10, 2019 release.

A previous alert from Island Health advised of possible exposure to measles at the following locations: April 2 (1:30 to 5 pm) at the LifeLabs and West Coast Medical Imaging unit at 1641 Hillside Avenue in Saanich. Also on April 3 (2:50 to 5:30 pm) at LifeLabs at 4480 West Saanich Road.

There may have been other exposures on March 27 at Camosun College Lansdowne Campus and on BC Transit buses route #27 and #28. Also on March 31 in the early evening at Hillside Mall. And London Drugs on Yates St on March 30 & 31. | Read the full April 6, 2019 release

Island Health is asking people who may have been exposed to measles to monitor for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure date. 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. 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. Measles immunization is free for everyone.

More details: The South Island measles info line is 250-544-7676 ext 27545. Or call 8-1-1 anytime or visit healthlinkbc.ca or immunizebc.ca/measles