Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC) and Dr. Sudit Ranade, the Yukon’s chief medical health officer, are cautioning Yukoners about a potential measles exposure linked to Air Canada Flight 66 from Bangkok, Thailand to Vancouver on Feb. 11, according to a Yukon government advisory.
Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health have confirmed a case of measles infection on the Lower Mainland in B.C. The case was acquired by someone who lives in the Fraser Health region and who travelled abroad to Southeast Asia, according to a public service announcement issued by southern health authorities on Feb. 15.
Public health officials from those health authorities are checking in with people known to have been exposed to the virus, per the notice.
That notice suggests that anyone who was on the flight and in the international arrivals area of YVR, including customs and baggage pickup, between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 11, may have been exposed.
Those who have never had measles, those have haven’t had two doses of the measles vaccine, infants under six months old, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness, according to the Yukon government advisory.
Symptoms, which typically show up a week to three weeks after exposure, include a fever of 38.3 C or higher; cough, runny nose or red eyes; and a red blotchy rash that appears a few days to a week after the fever begins.
Those who develop symptoms are being asked to isolate and call 811, their local health centre or YCDC as opposed to visiting a health-care facility or provider, per the advisory.
The Yukon government recommends people stay up to date on measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines and check immunization records to ensure they have received two doses of the MMR or MMR-V vaccine, as noted in the advisory.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
