20 cases of measles reported in northern B.C., officials say

Health officials in British Columbia say there are 20 suspected and confirmed cases of measles in the northern region of the province as they continue to warn of the highly contagious disease circulating in a small community in the northeast.

On Friday, Northern Health said they believed the disease was circulating in Wonowon, located around 90 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control said Monday that seven cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing in the Northern Health region, and 11 cases are assumed to be measles due to reported symptoms and exposure.

A day later, a Northern Health official said the number of cases had crept up to 20, but they believe only a subset of cases are being captured, and the actual total may be larger.

The 20 cases bring the total number of suspected and confirmed measles cases in B.C. this year to 32.

Measles has been seeing a resurgence in Canada — particularly in Ontario, where officials have counted 2,118 confirmed and probable cases of measles as of Monday, and in Alberta.

Dr. Jong Kim, the chief medical health officer for Northern Health, said the confirmed cases are all largely in the northeast, in the Wonowon and Peace River areas.

"The main messaging that we want to provide to our community is ... check your immunization status," Kim told CBC News.

"If you or your family members are susceptible, get yourself a plan for the immunization."

In its Friday statement, Northern Health said it believed the initial case of measles in the Wonowon area was acquired through travel, and there may have been various measles exposures in the area since late May.

The health authority added that members of the public may have been exposed to the disease at the Fort St. John Hospital emergency area on June 2, between midnight and 4 a.m. local time.

LISTEN | Infectious disease specialist on northern B.C. measles cases:

The Early Edition7:01A community in northeast B.C. is on the watch for more cases of measles after several confirmed cases.

We're joined by Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre.

Wonowon is a small, rural community located near the Halfway River First Nation reserve. The community doesn't have a listed population, but the First Nation has a registered population of just under 300 people, and the Wonowon School says it has 86 students, the majority of which come from Russian or German speaking families. 

Extremely contagious disease

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humankind. Symptoms can include a fever, coughing, a runny nose, and a blotchy red rash.

While health officials say most people are immune to the disease due to prior vaccination or infection, they're advising members of the public to monitor for measles symptoms for up to three weeks, as it is spread through the air.

In serious cases, measles can cause complications like inflammation of the brain, pneumonia and death.

WATCH | How early can you get your child a measles shot? 

How early can you get your child vaccinated against the measles virus?

3 months ago

Duration 3:49

Measles cases in B.C. remain low, with just five confirmed cases — all of them travel-related. But elsewhere, the numbers are exploding. Experts warn of further spread due to low vaccination rates. CBC's medical columnist, Dr. Melissa Lem, says she's been fielding questions from concerned parents. She says school-age kids are particularly vulnerable, and the virus can leave lasting damage to lungs and the immune system and even cause brain damage.

They say that people at risk of getting the virus include those who have not been vaccinated against the disease or had a prior infection, with health officials across Canada saying that most of the cases they're seeing are in unvaccinated people.

Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine offer almost 100 per cent effectiveness in the long term.

Kim said health officials were seeing that measles could cause clusters of outbreaks in Ontario, with a high attack rate for susceptible populations.

"In northern B.C., particularly in northeast B.C., our immunization rate is below what we need for the herd immunity ... the level that [protects] all the community," the medical health officer said. 

"So we are watching closely to ensure that we can respond to the situation and protect our community."

The health authority is advising anyone in Wonowon who has been exposed to measles to call the Fort St. John Medical Clinic to book a vaccination.

Officials are asking anyone who has a measles rash to self-isolate for at least four days if they're able.

If anyone is experiencing severe symptoms, officials are asking them to call ahead before seeking health care so that doctors can prepare and prevent further disease spread.