Lower Mainland health officials confirmed Tuesday that another case of the measles has been identified in the region.
Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health have determined that the infection was acquired abroad but are warning the public that the individual used public transit while they were infectious.
Measles / Shutterstock
Public health officials from both health authorities are warning those who used the following services on March 27 may have been exposed to the virus:
- The 323 bus between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m.
- The Expo Line between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m.
- The lobby and elevators at 666 Burrard Street in Vancouver and the Ascenda School of Management, which is at the same location, between 8:55 a.m. and 2:05 p.m.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through the air. Close contact is not needed for transmission.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the chest. Complications from the virus can include pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, convulsions, deafness, brain damage and death. Someone with the measles is infectious from four days before to four days after the onset of the rash.
“If you were in these locations during the exposed period and you develop early symptoms of measles, please call your doctor’s office first and tell them that you think you may have the measles so they can book you in at a time that will ensure you don’t expose others,” the statement from the health authorities said.
This brings the total number of cases of measles in the province to 22 this year.
