New South Island measles exposure confirmed
April 6, 2019
Victoria, BC – Dr. Dee Hoyano, Island Health Medical Health Officer has confirmed two new cases of measles infection on the South Island. Island Health is alerting individuals that they may have been exposed to measles at the following locations:
| Date | Time | Location |
| April 2, 2019 | 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | LifeLabs and West Coast Medical Imaging: 1641 Hillside Avenue |
| April 3, 2019 | 2:50 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
LifeLabs: 4480 West Saanich Road |
If you were at either of these locations during the specified times and you are unimmunized or incompletely immunized and you can call the Saanich Health Unit at 250-519-5100 or the Victoria Health Unit at 250-388-2200.
Both the Victoria Health Unit and Saanich Health Unit will be open on Sunday, April 7th between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.
MMR vaccine will be available at both locations. Each unit will have nursing and administrative staff available to support immunizations and inquiries around vaccination status. Individuals who present after 4:00 pm may not be able to receive their immunization before the unit closes and will need to wait until Monday.
Other exposure to measles viruses may have occurred at the following locations, dates, and times, but immunization will no longer prevent infection.
| Date | Time | Location | ||
| March 27 |
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Young Building |
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| March 27 | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm |
Bookstore in Fisher Building |
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| March 27 | Afternoon to Early Evening | Transit Buses #27 and/or #28 | ||
| March 29 |
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Victoria Health Unit: 1947 Cook Street | ||
| March 30 | 9:00 am to 7:00 pm | London Drugs: 911 Yates Street | ||
| March 30 |
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| March 31 | 9:30 am to 3:00 pm |
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| March 31 | Morning and afternoon | Transit Buses #27 and/or #28 | ||
| March 31 | 5:00 pm to 7:45 pm |
Including Canadian Tire and Thrifty Foods |
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| March 31 |
|
Subway Sandwiches: 4091 Shelbourne Street |
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 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.
Call 8-1-1 for information any time, visit healthlinkbc.ca or immunizebc.ca/measles.
Call our measles information line for services in your area:
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
General Information
Two doses of measles vaccine are 99 per cent effective at preventing measles. One dose of vaccine is 95 per cent effective. Rarely, those who are fully immunized can get measles but they often have milder illness, and are less infectious to others. Individuals born prior to January 1, 1970 are likely immune.
Free vaccine is available from your local health unit, family doctor, and many pharmacists. All Health Units in Island Health are currently offering additional booked school age immunization appointments. These clinics are scheduled during regular clinic hours, after hours and Saturdays.
South Island, Duncan, Nanaimo and Salt Spring Public Health Units are prioritizing immunizations for children. For clients aged 19 and older, please contact your local pharmacy, family doctor or travel clinic. Pharmacists can immunize adults and children over five years old. Please call ahead to ensure vaccine is available.
In the past 5 weeks we have administered approximately 3500 measles vaccinations which is more than double than the previous year. In addition to this, Island Health is offering to catch up all vaccines that the client
is behind on at the appointment. Public Health continues to offer extra clinics to meet increased requests for immunization appointments.
The source of the latest cases of measles are under investigation but at this point do not appear to be related to the two previous cases, confirmed last week.
For general information about measles visit the Island Health website: https://www.islandhealth.ca
Media Inquiries:
Island Health Media Relations
Phone: 250-716-7750