Travellers on a flight passing through Vancouver International Airport earlier this month are being warned they may have been exposed to measles — a highly infectious virus that can lead more serious health problems.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control warned Tuesday morning that on Oct. 16, 2024, a passenger with measles arrived at YVR on a Philippine Airline flight PR16.
The flight departed Manila at 8:20 p.m. local time and arrived in Vancouver at 5:30 p.m. The passenger then transferred to another flight — WestJet WS724/Philippine Airline PR3032 — departing YVR at 10:35 p.m. and arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 6:09 a.m. Eastern Oct. 17.
Later that afternoon, the passenger flew to New Brunswick. Last week, public health officials there issued a warning of measles exposure at a local emergency room due to a person who recently travelled from overseas.
The virus that causes measles spreads through the air. Many people have immunity because of vaccinations, and BC CDC recommends parents use the opportunity to check and make sure their children’s vaccine records are up to date.
Those born before 1970 or had measles as a child are also considered 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,” warned the BC CDC in its bulletin.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough and a runny nose. Infected individuals may also have red eyes and a rash that starts on the face and neck, and later spreads to the chest arms and legs.
Complications from an infection may include ear infections, diarrhea and pneumonia. And one in every 1,000 cases has been known to lead to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can lead to seizures, deafness, or brain damage, according to B.C. health officials.
“One out of every 3,000 people with measles may die from complications,” notes HealthLinkBC. “Complications and death are most common in infants less than 12 months of age and adults.”
Anyone exposed to the infected passenger could develop symptoms sometime between Oct. 23 and Nov. 6. Those who suspect they are infected should call a health care provider and avoid infecting people in a waiting room.
More information is also available by calling HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1.
