Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause more serious health issues. Passengers on a flight that passed through Vancouver International Airport earlier this month are being warned they may have been exposed to it.
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On Tuesday morning, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control issued a warning, stating that a passenger on Philippine Airline flight PR16 who had measles had arrived at YVR on October 16, 2024.
The plane landed in Vancouver at 5:30 p.m. local time after leaving Manila at 8:20 p.m. After that, the traveller changed to a different flight, WestJet WS724/Philippine Airline PR3032, which left YVR at 10:35 p.m. on October 17 and arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 6:09 a.m. Eastern.
The traveller took a plane to New Brunswick later that afternoon. There, public health officials issued a measles warning last week exposed at a nearby emergency room as a result of a recent international trip.
The measles virus travels through the atmosphere. The BC CDC advises parents to take advantage of the chance to ensure their children's immunization records are current, as many people have immunity due to vaccinations.
People who had measles as children or were born before 1970 are also regarded as immune.
In its alert, the BC CDC cautioned that "those who are completely unvaccinated against the disease, including children under one year of age, are the people who are most at risk of infection."
A runny nose, cough, and fever are all signs of measles. Red eyes and a rash that begins on the face and neck are among symptoms that infected people may experience neck, then moves to the arms, legs, and chest.
Diarrhea, pneumonia, and ear infections are examples of infection-related complications. And according to B.C. health experts, encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can cause convulsions, deafness, or brain damage, has been known to occur in one out of every 1,000 cases.
According to HealthLinkBC, "one in three measles patients may die from complications." "Infants under 12 months of age and adults are most at risk for complications and death."
Between October 23 and November 6, symptoms could appear in everyone who comes into contact with the sick passenger. Avoid spreading the infection to others in a waiting area and contact a healthcare professional if you think you may be infected.
Additional details can also be found by calling HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1.
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