Island Health has confirmed two new cases of measles on southern Vancouver Island.
Dr. Dee Hoyano, a medical health officer with Island Health, issued an alert saying people might have been exposed to measles at the following locations and times:
• 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 2 at LifeLabs and West Coast Medical Imaging, 1641 Hillside Ave., Victoria
• 2:50 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on April 3 at LifeLabs, 4480 West Saanich Rd., Saanich
•10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 2 or 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 3 at the Royal Oak Medical Clinic, 4442 W. Saanich Rd.
Anyone who was at either location during the specified times, was born during or after 1970 and is not fully immunized can call the Saanich Health Unit at 250-519-5100 or the Victoria Health Unit at 250-388-2200.
Both health units will be open today from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the measles vaccine will be available. People are advised to arrive before 4 p.m. or they might have to wait until Monday to get the vaccine.
The source of the new cases is under investigation, but Island Health said they do not appear to be related to two other cases confirmed last week.
There are now five lab-confirmed cases of measles on Vancouver Island, the agency said.
Two doses of measles vaccine are 99 per cent effective at preventing the disease, while one dose is 95 per cent effective, Island Health said.
The vaccine is available for free from health units, family doctors and many pharmacists.
Island Health said all of its health units are offering additional immunization appointments for school-aged children during regular clinic hours, after hours and on Saturdays.
Symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, diarrhea and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the chest.
Island Health recommends that those who have symptoms call ahead before visiting a health provider so they can take precautions to prevent transmission.
Last month, Health Minister Adrian Dix announced a measles immunization catch-up campaign, an effort to vaccinate 95 per cent of the province’s youth. In 2018, just 82 per cent of seven-year-olds had received both doses of the measles vaccine, as recommended.
