There have been three cases of measles on the North Shore, including Bowen Island, and Dr. Réka Gustafson, Vancouver Coastal Health's medical director of communicable disease control, says this is a very unusual occurrence. She is urging Bowen Islanders to check their family vaccination records and, if they haven't had two shots of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) immunization, get a booster shot now.
"Measles is one of the most infectious diseases and it can be serious. It is usually the most severe in very young children and in adults," Gustafson said, stressing that it is very contagious. She explained that the virus is airborne and eight out of 10 susceptible people will catch it if exposed. "The virus gets coughed into the air and stays floating in the air for a long time," Gustafson said. "Even if you enter the room two hours later, you can still get it. But of course, the closer you are, the higher the risk of catching it."
Measles starts with fever and cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash that sets in on the third or fourth day of illness (see http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile14b.stm). The rash starts on the face and then moves to rest of the body, according to Gustafson. "People need to know that they can be infectious for four days before the rash starts and four days after," she said, urging people who are exhibiting those symptoms to isolate themselves right away and not attend any community events. "If you are sick, stay at home," she said.
Measles are preventable through immunization (http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile14a.stm). Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective and are usually given to children one year of age and then again at 18 months or four to six years of age. "The two doses of the vaccine work very well and we ask parents to check their and their kids' immunization records," Gustafson said. "If the children are older than one and haven't got the second immunization, it's important they get vaccinated now."
Gustafson explained that the last outbreak of measles in Canada was in 2010 and it is hoped that the disease will be eliminated.
Most of the cases of measles that have been observed since the 2010 outbreak have been acquired abroad.
The new case of measles was diagnosed by Bowen Island physician Dr. Susanne Schloegl and the vaccine will be available at her office at Artisan Square (downstairs from Artisan Eats) on Tuesday, July 2, from 9:30 a.m. on a drop-in basis.
"Nurses will be there to administer the vaccine to anyone who was born after 1970 and hasn't had two doses," Gustafson said, adding that people born before that are largely considered immune. After Tuesday, immunizations can be scheduled by appointment.
"Everybody should have two doses in order to be protected," Gustafson explained. "The greater the number of people who are not immunized, the higher is the risk of an outbreak. People should be protected for their own benefit and for the benefit of the community."
