The Vancouver measles outbreak continues: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) confirmed two more cases on Sunday afternoon, bringing the potential total of cases to 12.
The health authority said both of the new cases were contracted by patients while travelling, but could only link one of them to an Air Canada flight that left Vancouver International Airport on Feb. 12.
That flight landed at Edmonton International Airport later that day, after which the Public Health Agency of Canada said the patient visited several locations in Leduc, Alta., while infectious, before travelling on to the Northwest Territories.
The federal agency has since issued a public alert in Alberta listing those locations in Leduc and is urging anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to get vaccinated immediately.
In a statement Sunday, VCH said the second patient lives within the health authority’s boundaries and visited at least two public locations in Richmond, one of them twice.
It also said the first patient arrived at the Vancouver airport from a Philippine Airlines flight and spent time in the international terminal and an airport hotel before flying to Edmonton and then to the Northwest Territories.
WATCH: VCH medical health officer Dr. Réka Gustafson on how to protect yourself from the current measles outbreak
VCH released an itinerary of potential exposure locations for both patients within the Metro Vancouver area, all between Feb. 11 and 18:
- Vancouver International Airport, Philippine Airlines flight PR 116 — Feb. 11, landed approx. 4 p.m.
- Vancouver International Airport, international arrivals and customs areas — Feb. 11, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Shuttle bus from YVR to La Quinta Inn, Richmond — Feb. 11, between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Shuttle bus from La Quinta Inn, Richmond — Feb. 12, between 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Vancouver International Airport, Air Canada domestic departures area — Feb. 12, between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- Little Ongpin Restaurant, Richmond — Feb. 16, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Toys R Us, Lansdowne Centre, Richmond — Feb. 17, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Toys R Us, Lansdowne Centre, Richmond — Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Health officials say these locations are places where they haven’t been able to contact everyone who may have been exposed directly, and are urging anyone who visited these locations during the times above to get vaccinated immediately.
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The two new cases come after two other cases were confirmed to the public Friday, both in patients who are residents of the Fraser Valley. One of those cases is linked to the eight others confirmed at three Francophone schools in Vancouver.
The other case could not be linked to a definitive source of exposure, prompting VCH to issue a list of potential locations where that patient travelled between Feb. 15 and 18, and where the public may have been exposed.
The two new cases confirmed Sunday are not linked to the Vancouver schools.
WATCH: Current measles outbreak prompts advice to check your immunization status
On Sunday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said people who visited either the Vancouver or Edmonton airports should get vaccinated right away.
“If you’re in those circumstances, yes, you should be conscious and yes, you should review your immunization records, especially those of your children,” Dix said.
“Frankly, people should not be getting measles in the 21st century in British Columbia, and we have the means to deal with that, and the real means is immunization.”
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