Measles outbreak in metro Vancouver area

The new case is said to have been carried by a Metro Vancouver resident who traveled to Vancouver from Tokyo on April 13.

A report by Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health says that the patient became infected while abroad in Japan and traveled several places in the country.

If unvaccinated or partially vaccinated passengers aboard the Japanese Airline flight JL018 on Saturday could also be infected as there was a high possibility they were exposed to the Measles of the recent infected patient.

The report also warns that if individuals visited the Ramada Hotel in Coquitlam, the Ramada restaurant or the Lougheed Town Centre on Sunday they should be warned that they had the possibility of contracting Measles.

18 out of the 27 confirmed cases in British Columbia are limited to the Vancouver area, making it the major infected area in the province.

The Canadian Press reported that cases have also been reported on Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley and in 100 Mile House of the south Cariboo region.

Measles is highly contagious and symptoms appear within 7 to 18 days after exposure to the virus. However, the virus can spread before symptoms appear.

According to Canada.ca, symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sleepiness, irritability, and red eyes. Koplik spots, white spots, can also appear inside the mouth and throat. Rashes also develop about 3 to 7 days after symptoms begin.

If you or a loved one were in the reported areas, it is important to contact a healthcare provided as soon as possible. If you are not already vaccinated, it is recommended to receive vaccination in order to prevent contracting the highly contagious virus.