Vancouver – A passenger with measles travelled through Vancouver International Airport on November 23.
People on the same flights or who were at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) may have been exposed to measles. At YVR, the passenger spent time on the route between the arrival gate D73 at the international terminal and at the departure gate C48 in the domestic terminal, where the ill passenger waited for their next flight..
The passenger travelled on the following flights to and from YVR:
· Air Canada Flight 79 departed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates at 2:17 AM local time and arrived in Vancouver at 6:07 AM Pacific Time
· Air Canada flight 206 departed from Vancouver at 10:36 AM Pacific Time and arrived in Calgary, Alberta at 1:06 PM Mountain Time
The passenger tested positive for measles in Alberta. Public health officials in Alberta issued an alert through the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence on November 28 and posted an advisory online.
Measles is a highly infectious disease transmitted by airborne spread. Most people will be immune to measles due to prior immunization and others, especially older adults, may have had measles as a child and are immune. Individuals most at risk from measles are those who are completely unvaccinated against the disease including babies under one year of age.
If you were on the flights on November 23 and were traveling with an unvaccinated infant, or are immunocompromised and not immune to measles, today, November 29, would be the last day to receive post-exposure prophylaxis with immunoglobulin to minimize the risk of measles developing. To get the immunoglobulin, call your local health unit and ask for the communicable disease nurse. To find a public health unit anywhere in the province, use the locator on ImmunizeBC.ca.
Symptoms of measles include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs. The rash lasts about 4 to 7 days.
If you are not immune and were exposed to the measles virus, you could get measles. If infected, you will develop symptoms within 7 to 21 days of being exposed. If you were exposed during travel through Vancouver International Airport on November 23, symptoms could develop as early as November 30 and as late as December 14.
If you become ill and suspect you may have measles, call your healthcare provider and inform them that you may have measles, so that they can arrange to see you in a manner that avoids infecting others in the waiting room.
You can also call your local health unit and ask for the communicable disease nurse or call HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1. 8-1-1 is a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line available in 130 different languages.
The BCCDC advises British Columbians to review their immunization status prior to travel. Stay up to date on all recommended immunizations.
