BCCDC Public Advisory - Passenger with measles travelled through Vancouver International Airport
By Contributor
Travellers are being alerted to potential exposure to measles on flights to and from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Oct. 16. A passenger with measles arrived at the airport in Vancouver on Oct. 16 and departed on another flight that evening.
People who were on the same flights or who were at YVR during this time may have been exposed. The passenger arrived at Terminal M around 6 p.m. Oct. 16 and left from gate B17 at 10:30 p.m. They did not visit any restaurants or stores.
The passenger travelled on the following flights to and from YVR:
- Philippine Airline PR16: Departed Manila at 8:20 p.m. local time on October 16, arrived at Vancouver International Airport at 5:30 p.m. PDT on October 16.
- WestJet WS724 /Philippine Airline PR3032: Departed Vancouver International Airport at 10:35 p.m. PDT on October 16, arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 6:09 a.m. EDT on October 17.
The passenger then flew from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Fredericton International Airport in New Brunswick, departing at around 2 p.m. EDT on October 17. The passenger later tested positive for measles in New Brunswick. Public health officials in that province issued a local health advisory.
Measles is highly infectious and transmitted by airborne spread but most people are immune to it thanks to immunization or natural infection. People born before 1970 or people who have had measles as a child are also immune. People who are most at risk of infection are those who are completely unvaccinated against the disease, including children under one year of age.
Symptoms of measles include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Rash, which starts first on the face and neck, spreads to the chest, arms and legs and lasts about four to seven days.
If you are not immune and were exposed to the measles virus, you could get measles. 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 October 16, symptoms could develop as early as Oct.23 and as late as Nov. 6.
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. HealthLinkBC is a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line available in 130 different languages.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check that their child’s immunization records are up to date and that they have received all recommended doses of the measles vaccine. The BCCDC advises people in B.C to stay up to date on all recommended immunizations.
More information
- HealthLinkBC information on measles
- ImmunizeBC information on the measles vaccine
- Canada’s Measles and Rubella Weekly Monitoring Report
