2 new travel-related cases of measles confirmed in Metro Vancouver

Health officials in British Columbia have confirmed two new cases of measles in the Lower Mainland, bringing the total number of recent infections to four. Fraser Health has reported that both individuals who tested positive had traveled in the same group from South Korea as another person who was previously diagnosed with measles earlier this week.

These new cases are not related to a previous infection last month, which involved a resident of the Vancouver Coastal Health region who had also contracted measles after a trip to Southeast Asia. Health officials have expanded their list of locations where members of the public may have been exposed to the virus, including Vancouver’s airport, a supermarket in Burnaby, and a restaurant in Coquitlam.

Individuals may have been exposed if they were on flight KE75 from Seoul to Vancouver on Feb. 17 or at the Vancouver International Airport on the same day between 3:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. Additional exposure may have occurred at the PriceSmart supermarket on Austin Road on Feb. 20 and 21, at the Big Way Hot Pot restaurant in Coquitlam on Feb. 28, and at the Royal Columbian Hospital Emergency Department from March 3 to March 4.

The health authority is actively reaching out to individuals who may have been exposed to the virus and advising them to monitor for symptoms such as fever, dry cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash for up to three weeks after exposure.

Amidst the recent cases in British Columbia, Canada has seen a total of 227 measles cases so far this year, surpassing the number reported in all of 2024. The Public Health Agency of Canada has noted a significant increase in measles cases globally, with a corresponding rise in Canada, particularly in provinces like New Brunswick, Ontario, Québec, and Manitoba. Many of the infected individuals have required hospitalization due to the severity of the illness.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through airborne transmission, but most people in Canada are immune either through vaccination or prior natural infection. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that may appear up to three weeks after exposure. It is crucial for individuals to stay informed about the risks of measles and ensure that their vaccinations are up to date to prevent further spread of the virus.