Update: Additional location of potential measles exposure

Update: Additional Location for Potential Measles Exposure
 

Victoria, BC – Further to the information bulletin from April 6, Island Health is alerting individuals that there is another location, noted below, where they may have been exposed to measles on either April 2 or 3, 2019:

If you were at any of the locations noted above during the specified times, and:

• you were born during or after 1970, and
• you are unimmunized or incompletely immunized you can call the Saanich Health Unit at 250-519-5100 or the Victoria Health Unit at 250-388-2200.

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.

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 about measles

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.

lease 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
 

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Media inquiries:

Island Health Media Relations

Phone: 250-716-7750