Passengers of an Air China flight from Beijing to Vancouver last week may have been exposed to measles.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) issued a warning Friday after being made aware a passenger of the flight developed symptoms after arriving in Vancouver. The passenger was infectious while on the flight.
VCH is advising those who were on Air China Flight CA991, which arrived at 9:30 a.m. on Mar. 3, along with anyone in the international arrivals area of the Vancouver International Airport around that time, to make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations.
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VCH advises anyone who might have been exposed to watch for the following symptoms until March 24, 2016:
- fever
- cough
- runny nose
- conjunctivitis, or pink eye
- red rash
Anyone who develops these symptoms should seek medical care, but are asked to call ahead to make health officials aware you will be attending their facilities in case they need to take any extra precautions.
Most Canadian residents will have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as a child. B.C. residents can get the vaccine for free from a doctor’s office, a Public Health unit or walk-in clinic.
VCH Public Health asks anyone with measles to report their illness by calling 604-675-3900.
Measles is highly infectious and spread through the air. It can be a serious illness with complications such as inflammation of the brain, convulsions, deafness or brain damage.
– With a file from Yuliya Talmazan
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