Island Health has confirmed one new case of measles infection on the South Island. Island Health is alerting individuals that they may have been exposed to measles if they visited or passed through the building common spaces, including washrooms, at the following location:
|
Date |
Time |
Location |
|
March 26 |
8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
4475 Viewmont Avenue – Royal Oak shopping centre complex, Pennbridge building
|
|
March 27 |
8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
4475 Viewmont Avenue – Royal Oak shopping centre complex, Pennbridge building |
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 are born after 1970 and have 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
This latest case of measles does not appear to be related to the previous cases.
Please visit the Island Health website for current information: http://bit.ly/measlesupdates
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.
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 more than 3500 measles vaccinations which is more than double 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. Island Health is implementing the measles catch-up campaign announced last month by the Ministry of Health: information is being sent to parents and Island Health is planning in-school or after school immunization clinics for children from kindergarten to grade 12 who are under/unimmunized for measles.
Media Inquiries
Cheryl Bloxham
Media Relations
Phone: 250-370-8878
Email: Cheryl.Bloxham@islandhealth.ca