Well being officers are calling on British Columbians to make sure they’re absolutely vaccinated towards measles amid rising outbreaks of the damaging and extremely contagious virus in different components of Canada and the US.
Provincial well being officer Dr. Bonnie Henry made the attraction on Friday as she and Well being Minister Josie Osborne introduced the launch of a spring COVID-19 vaccination marketing campaign for these most susceptible.
“Measles is essentially the most infectious of the viruses that we all know could cause sickness in individuals … notably in kids, and we all know it could actually unfold quickly as a result of it lasts within the air for a really lengthy time period,” Henry mentioned.
“It could trigger extreme sickness like encephalitis, irritation of the mind, it could actually result in long-lasting issues and might even trigger deaths, notably in kids who aren’t protected.”
An ongoing outbreak in Ontario has sickened greater than 570 individuals and hospitalized greater than 40 individuals, largely kids, with associated circumstances in Quebec, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Nearly all of these affected haven’t been vaccinated.
One other outbreak within the U.S., largely centred in Texas, has killed two individuals and sickened greater than 325 — additionally primarily unvaccinated individuals.
There have been 5 measles circumstances reported in B.C. thus far this yr, all of them linked to worldwide journey to measles hotspots equivalent to Southeast Asia.
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Henry mentioned officers have been involved about its potential unfold in B.C., on condition that many individuals could also be coming back from spring break journeys overseas.
“When individuals are available in contact with measles, it may be a really small dose of the virus to contaminate anyone who shouldn’t be protected, and it could actually take seven to 14 days earlier than you begin to present signs,” she mentioned.
“And you’ll cross it on to others earlier than you even notice you’re sick your self. That’s what is so worrisome about this virus.”
The measles vaccine is often given in two doses — the primary shortly after a baby’s first birthday, and the second between the ages of 4 and 6.
However B.C. vaccination charges have been falling. In 2013, practically 91 per cent of seven-year-old kids had been absolutely immunized. Ten years later, in 2023, that quantity had fallen to 72.4 per cent, in keeping with the B.C. Centre for Illness Management.
Henry mentioned she was involved in regards to the quantity of misinformation circulating in regards to the measles vaccine, stressing that a long time of research have proven that it’s protected.
“We all know so much in regards to the measles vaccine, we all know how efficient it’s, we all know that getting two doses of this vaccine protects you for all times, it means you don’t have to fret,” she mentioned.
“Measles vaccine doesn’t trigger autism. I say that unequivocally,” Henry added.
“It’s the solely and finest safety towards this extremely contagious and harmful virus, particularly to younger kids. And to be clear, vitamin A, zinc, cod liver oil don’t deal with measles.”
Anybody born earlier than 1970 is already protected against measles as a result of prior publicity to the virus.
Anybody born after 1970 ought to guarantee they’ve had two doses of the vaccine, Henry mentioned. That’s notably essential for individuals born earlier than 1994, who could have solely obtained one dose.
Measles signs embrace fever, dry cough, runny nostril, and crimson eyes, adopted a number of days later by a rash that begins on the hairline and spreads quickly all the way down to the remainder of the physique.
In the meantime, Henry and Osborne mentioned B.C. has now formally exited its peak respiratory sickness season, with influenza, RSV and COVID-19 infections all trending downward.
However the province remains to be recommending seniors and other people deemed clinically extraordinarily susceptible get an up to date dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“For individuals on the highest threat of significant sickness, an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can increase their immunity by the spring and summer time,” Osborne mentioned.
“That’s why notifications to precedence populations will exit beginning April 8.”
As of Friday, Henry mentioned there have been about 40 individuals hospitalized in B.C. with COVID-19, the fewest for the reason that summer time of 2020.
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