More measles cases and exposures confirmed in B.C.

Vials of Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine are seen in this file photo.

B.C.’s measles caseload has risen again.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported a total of 63 confirmed measles cases in the province in its latest update Thursday afternoon.

That’s an increase of 14 from the 49 reported on Tuesday, with most of the latest cases detected in the Northern Health region.

A total of 41 measles infections have been confirmed in Northern Health in 2025 so far, compared to single-digit totals in the mainland’s other regional health authorities and none on Vancouver Island.

The Northern Health total is considered an undercount, because “some communities have a large disease burden, and not everyone is presenting to Northern Health for diagnosis and health care support,” according to the BCCDC.

The latest update also included several new public exposure notices.

Such notices are issued when health officials are unable to directly contact everyone who may have been exposed to a known case of the virus at a given place and time. The latest exposure notices include several flights and airports, as well as a spa and a sports complex in Kamloops.

Newly published exposures include:

June 17

• Son Mai Spa, 459 Lansdowne St., Kamloops, from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

June 19

• Andersen’s Sewing, 213 - 141 Victoria St., Kamloops, from 1 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.

June 21

• McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, upper floor field, 1665 Island Pkwy., Kamloops, from 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

June 23

• WestJet flight WS320 from Fort St. John to Vancouver, departed at 12:44 p.m. MDT, and arrived at 2:44 p.m. PDT
• WestJet flight WS332 from Vancouver to Kelowna, departed at 6:18 p.m. and arrived at 7:17 p.m.
• North Peace Regional Airport (YXJ) from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. MDT
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – Terminal B, from 2:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Kelowna International Airport (YLW) from 7:20 p.m. to 9:40 p.m.

June 25

• WestJet flight WS3540 from Kamloops to Calgary, departed at 5:38 a.m. PDT, and arrived at 8 a.m. MDT
• Kamloops Airport (YKA) from 4 a.m. to 7:50 a.m.

Anyone who may have been exposed to measles should monitor for symptoms, which include “fever, cough, runny nose, and red and inflamed eyes that are often sensitive to light,” according to the BCCDC.

“These symptoms are followed by a rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs.”

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through the air, and symptoms can develop between seven and 21 days after exposure. Those who are completely unvaccinated against the virus – including children under one year old – are at greatest risk.

Most people in Canada are immune to measles due to vaccination or previous infection. However, the prevalence of the disease has been increasing in recent years as vaccination rates have dropped.

In B.C., the vaccination rate among seven-year-olds was 72.4 per cent in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. That’s down from a rate of 90.9 per cent a decade earlier.

On Wednesday, Premier David Eby described this year’s measles surge as “the sadly predictable outcome” of the “recklessness” of politicians who question vaccine safety.

“I will encourage all British Columbians to ensure that they are vaccinated,” Eby said. “Measles is no joke. It kills kids. It’s a preventable disease, and we don’t want that to be the story of the summer for our province.”

• Read more: Measles spikes across Canada due to anti-vax ‘recklessness,’ B.C. premier says