A young child placed under quarantine last week after possibly contracting the measles infection in northern B.C. has been cleared.
Social media was abuzz about the recent outbreak in B.C. having reached Fort St. John last Thursday, after one parent shared her son had been placed under quarantine and ordered to stay home as a precaution.
On Tuesday, the parent reported her son was given the clear, but said it's not known what caused the boy's sickness.
Northern Health officials would not confirm any suspected cases out of privacy considerations, but said there are no confirmed cases yet in the region.
“I can confirm that our public health staff continue to be vigilant for measles activity, and to date there have been NO confirmed cases in Northeast BC, including Fort St John,” said spokeswoman Eryn Collins.
“We’re still encouraging people to check and ensure their immunizations are up to date.”
Northern Health will notify the public if and when there any confirmed cases, and if there are concerns others have been exposed, Collins said.
There have been at least 15 measles cases reported in the Vancouver area after an outbreak at two schools in the city.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through the air and close contact is not needed for transmission. It can also be spread through sharing food, drinks or cigarettes or kissing an infected person.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the chest.
Two doses of measles vaccine are 99 per cent effective at preventing measles, and most cases now occur in those born after 1970 who have had no doses or only one dose of the vaccine.
Immunizations are available at all public health units in B.C., including in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Hudson's Hope, Chetwynd, and Tumbler Ridge.
To learn more, visit the Immunize BC website.
- Matt Preprost, Alaska Highway News, with files from The Canadian Press
