Submitted. A case related to the measles outbreak in Chilliwack has been confirmed at the BCIT Campus in Burnaby. This student was on campus on March 6 and 7.
Fraser Health is working with BCIT to alert students who may have come in contact with this particular student of a possible exposure to measles. Students who attended classes in building NE1 at the Burnaby BCIT campus on March 6 or 7 can return to school on March 17, 2014 if they have two documented doses of MMR vaccine, if they are born before 1970 or if they have had measles illness in the past.
People with symptoms of measles are asked to isolate themselves at home. Anyone that is seriously ill is asked to contact their doctor, public health unit, or emergency department prior to arriving in order to prevent the spread of the disease to other vulnerable patients.
“Measles is a very contagious disease. Those who aren’t vaccinated can spread the disease quickly. If you are showing measles-like symptoms, stay home and call your doctor or 811,” said Dr. Paul Van Buynder, Chief Medical Health Officer with Fraser Health.
The best protection against measles remains two doses of measles vaccine. Vaccinations are available to the public through pharmacies, doctors or walk-in clinics.
WHAT IS MEASLES?
Measles (red measles) is a severe illness caused by the measles virus. Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The measles virus can survive in small droplets in the air for several hours. The airborne spread of measles virus makes the disease very contagious.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red and inflamed eyes (often sensitive to light). These are followed 3-7 days later by a rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs, and lasts at least 3 days. You may also notice spots inside your mouth that look like small grains of sand on a red base.