Second Measles Case Confirmed in Lower Mainland, BC, Linked to Travel and Air Travel

Second Measles Case Confirmed in Lower Mainland, British Columbia

Health authorities in British Columbia have confirmed a second case of measles in the Lower Mainland, this time within the Vancouver Coastal Health region. The infected individual traveled to Southeast Asia with a group that included a Fraser Health resident who tested positive for measles earlier this month.

Measles is a highly contagious disease spread through the air. It can cause serious complications, including brain inflammation, and one in 3,000 infected individuals may die from these complications.

Vancouver Coastal Health is actively contacting individuals who may have been exposed to the disease. Additionally, anyone who was on Air Canada flight 66 from Bangkok to Vancouver on February 11th is urged to contact health authorities.

While most Canadians are immune to measles due to vaccination or previous infection, the health authority emphasizes the importance of vaccination as the most effective way to prevent the spread of this serious disease.

There are no other recent measles cases in British Columbia. However, there has been an increase in infections in other parts of Canada, the United States, and internationally.