People who travelled through Vancouver International Airport earlier this month are being warned that they may have been exposed to measles.
A traveller who later tested positive for the virus in Alberta was at the airport on Nov. 23.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) said the passenger spent time at arrival gate D73 in the international terminal and at departure gate C48 at the domestic terminal.
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
When the traveller tested positive for measles in Alberta, the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence posted a Canada-wide advisory on Nov. 28.
“Measles is a highly infectious disease transmitted by airborne spread,” BCCDC said.
“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.”
It added: “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.”
Anyone requiring the immunoglobulin is urged to call their health care provider and ask for the communicable diseases nurse.
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 four to seven days
“If you are not immune and were exposed to the measles virus, you could get measles,” BCCDC added.
“If infected, you will develop symptoms within seven 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.”
