Latest news with #Wonowon
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles may be circulating in small northeast B.C. community, says health authority
Northern Health officials have identified multiple confirmed cases of measles in the small northeast B.C. community of Wonowon since late May. It's also warning of an exposure at Fort St. John Hospital earlier this month. Wonowon is located around 90 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John, and is the site of the Halfway River First Nation reserve. The nation has a registered population of just under 300 people, and the Wonowon School says its student population comprises just under 60 kids. Members of the public have been warned to check for symptoms of the disease, which has been seeing a resurgence in Canada — particularly in Ontario, where officials have counted 2,046 confirmed and probable cases of measles as of May 31, and in Alberta. Northern Health says that it has found multiple lab-confirmed cases of the disease in Wonowon, though it did not share an exact number. As of May 31, Health Canada says B.C. has reported 12 cases of measles. "While it appears the initial case was travel-acquired, Northern Health Medical Health [officers] now believe the disease is circulating in the community," reads a statement from Northern Health. "Members of the public in Wonowon and neighbouring communities, including Fort St. John, may have been exposed in various settings in the community since late May." Northern Health adds that members of the public may have been exposed to the disease at the Fort St. John Hospital emergency area on June 2, between midnight and 4 a.m. local time. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humankind. Symptoms can include a fever, coughing, a runny nose, and a blotchy red rash. While health officials say most people are immune to the disease due to prior vaccination or infection, they're advising members of the public to monitor for measles symptoms for up to three weeks, as it is spread through the air. In serious cases, measles can cause complications like inflammation of the brain, pneumonia and say that people at risk of getting the virus include those who have not been vaccinated against the disease or had a prior infection, with health officials across Canada saying that most of the cases they're seeing are in unvaccinated people. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine offer almost 100 per cent effectiveness in the long term. The health authority is advising anyone in Wonowon who has been exposed to measles to call the Fort St. John Medical Clinic to book a vaccination. Officials are asking anyone who has a measles rash to self-isolate for at least four days if they're able. If anyone is experiencing severe symptoms, officials are asking them to call ahead before seeking health care so that doctors can prepare and prevent further disease spread.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Measles circulating in northeastern B.C., health authority says
A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Geoff Robins / The Canadian Press) Health officials in northern B.C. say they believe measles is circulating in the community of Wonowon after identifying 'multiple lab-confirmed cases' of the highly infectious disease. The initial case in the community 89 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John appears to have been 'travel-acquired,' Northern Health said in an information bulletin Friday. 'Members of the public in Wonowon and neighbouring communities, including Fort St. John, may have been exposed in various settings in the community since late May,' the bulletin reads. 'In addition, members of the public may have been exposed at the Fort St. John Hospital emergency waiting area on June 2 between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m.' The health authority advised anyone who believes they have measles to stay home and self-isolate for at least four days after their rash first appears. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms – such as difficulty breathing, confusion, persistent high fever, dehydration, or complications – should call ahead before visiting a health-care provider or emergency room, Northern Health said. This gives medical professionals time to prepare measures to mitigate the possibility of further spread of the disease. 'Do NOT visit the hospital unless seriously ill,' Northern Health said. Measles is highly infectious and transmitted by airborne spread. Most people in Canada are immune to the disease because of immunization or – if they were born before 1970 – previous infection. However, vaccination rates have declined in recent years, and Canada has seen significant outbreaks of the disease in Ontario and Alberta this year. In B.C., the vaccination rate among seven-year-olds was 72.4 per cent in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. That's down from a rate of 90.9 per cent a decade earlier, before the anti-vaccine movement grew in popularity, including on social media. Northern Health did not specify how many cases had been confirmed in the Wonowon outbreak, and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control has not yet updated its measles information page with the latest cases. The most recent BCCDC update was published Thursday, before Northern Health's announcement, and showed 12 confirmed measles cases in the province so far this year, most of them travel-acquired. Four of those were detected in the Fraser Health region, while the other eight were in Vancouver Coastal Health. Those who are not immune to measles will likely develop symptoms between seven and 21 days after exposure. 'Initial symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes,' Northern Health said. 'A rash typically develops a few days later, beginning on the face and then spreading down the body.' The health authority said the best way to protect oneself from measles is to get vaccinated. Residents of Northern Health can call the Fort St. John Medical Clinic at 250-263-6000 to schedule a vaccination appointment. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel
