Eby calls rise in cases `terrifying'
“Cases are imported from other places, and with people travelling over March break, they need to be aware where they're going and check their vaccination status.”
Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus. One person with measles could spread it to an average of 13 people, compared with COVID-19, which typically would spread to one to three others, said Henry.
Especially tricky is that people with measles are contagious even before symptoms show up. The virus doesn't require close contact to be transmitted and can stay in a room for up to two hours after an infected person has left.
Infections can cause fever, red eyes, cough, runny nose and a rash. Most people recover within a week or two. Severe complications can include deafness, brain damage and even death.
Because measles spreads so quickly in a school, a single case in a school means children who aren't fully vaccinated will be offered vaccination or asked to stay home.
Health officials urged parents and guardians to check that their child's immunization records are up-to-date in the provincial immunization registry.
During an unrelated news conference in Victoria, Premier David Eby was asked about the increase in measles cases.
“This is terrifying,” he said, pointing out that infants who are too young to get vaccinated are relying on the parents of other children to get their kids vaccinated.
“Without those vaccinations, you're putting infant children in our province at risk of very, very serious illness. So please to everybody out there make sure that your kids are vaccinated. We should not have diseases that should be eliminated in British Columbia, like measles, flaring up like we've seen in other parts of the world.”
In B.C., the measles vaccine is given as a two-dose series.
The first dose is given as part of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine on a child's first birthday, and offers about 93 per cent protection from measles.
The second dose is usually given around the time the child starts school as the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, which also includes protection against chickenpox.
For most kids with a healthy immune system, it's OK to wait until school entry for the second dose, said Henry.
But children between one and four can also get their second dose before travelling internationally, particularly if they're going to places with known outbreaks.
Babies as young as six months should also get their measles shot before travelling to countries where outbreaks are reported.
Health officials recommend children get their first dose at least two weeks before travel to give the child's body time to build immunity.
Adults born in 1970 or later are also recommended to have received two doses of a vaccine before international travel. Those born before 1970, when measles immunization programs became widespread, are likely to have acquired immunity through exposure.
People can book their vaccine appointments through local public health units, community health centres or nursing stations. Children four years or older and adults can also get their vaccine through a pharmacist.
Fraser Health is offering extra clinics during spring break for school-aged and childhood immunizations, including the MMRV vaccines.
Federal data from 2021 shows that nearly 92 per cent of two-yearolds in Canada have received at least one dose of a vaccine against measles, but only 79.2 per cent of seven-year-olds have received the second dose.
The WHO has reported a 79 per cent increase in the number of global measles cases in 2023, compared with 2019. Nearly half of cases are among children five years and younger. The increase was due in part to a decline in vaccinations that occurred during COVID.