Although no cases of measles related to an outbreak in Washington state have been reported in B.C., the province’s centre for disease control (BCCDC) is warning British Columbians about travelling to the affected communities.
Washington state has declared a state of emergency in Clark County, which is just north of Portland, Ore., because of a measles outbreak there.
The BCCDC says while most travellers will be immune to measles, those that aren’t will be susceptible to a highly infectious disease spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. The centre advises British Columbians who need to update their immunization status before travelling can receive a vaccine that also prevents mumps and rubella. It is available at local health units, family doctors and many pharmacists. The Tri-Cities Health Unit is at 200-205 Newport Dr., in Port Moody. (604-929-7200).
According to the centre, children in B.C. receive two doses of measles-containing vaccine during routine immunization, with the first at 12 months of age and the second at four years of age or school entry. All school-age children, university students and those traveling out of the country and born on or after Jan. 1, 1970 should have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, as should health-care workers born on or after Jan. 1, 1957.
B.C. typically experiences a few cases of measles each year, usually among under-vaccinated travellers returning from parts of the world where measles is still common, said a centre press release. In 2018, six cases of measles were reported by B.C residents. In two cases the infection was acquired during travel out of Canada (India and Philippines, respectively), and four from imported cases. So far in 2019, a single case of measles was reported in B.C. in an adult traveller returning from the Philippines.
Those who are concerned about their potential measles exposure but have no symptoms can call 8-1-1 and speak to a nurse. For more information about measles, see: bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/measles on the BCCDC website.
