Three cases of measles have been reported in Vancouver’s North Shore, health officials announced Friday.
The BC Centre for Disease Control is warning that although the measles is a rare disease in Canada, people who haven’t been immunized and children are at risk.
The three cases were confirmed on Bowen Island and the North Shore in June. All three people diagnosed are adults.
The Whatcom County Health Department issued a similar warning for Costco and Bellis Fair Mall shoppers after one of the infected British Columbians, who didn’t know they had the contagious disease, visited the two stores on June 22.
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Both stores are located on Meridian Street in Bellingham.
Whatcom County health department says shoppers at Costco or Bellis Fair Mall could start to present symptoms between June 29 and July 13. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes.
Measles are contagious and spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease can remain in the air for up to two hours after the infected person has left the area.
Measles cases are contagious for the first four days before the symptoms start and it can take seven to 21 days for someone to come down with measles after they have been exposed to the virus.
If you think you have been exposed to the measles virus and you begin to develop symptoms, the health department says to stay home so you don’t expose others.
There have been no cases reported in Bellingham.
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