Vancouver Coastal Health reported Sunday that two new cases of measles have been brought to their attention.
Both people acquired the infection while traveling abroad. One person lives in the VCH region and the other was traveling through Richmond and YVR (Vancouver International Airport) en route to Edmonton, then the Northwest Territories.
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The infectious cases visited the locations below:
For people who were at those locations on the dates and times listed, “VCH is asking them to monitor for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure date” reads a statement.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the chest.
Vancouver Coastal health says that two doses of a measles vaccine are 99% effective at preventing measles. One dose of a vaccine is 95% effective.
To date this year a total of 13 people, who either live in or spent time in VCH, have had reported measles. On February 15th, eight cases of measles were reported in just a span of one week.
Free vaccines are available at some local community health centres, the City Centre Urgent Primary Care Centre, and family doctors and walk-in clinics. Pharmacists can immunize adults and children over five years old. Please call ahead to ensure vaccines are available.
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