Measles

From the office of the Medical Health Officer

Physicians are asked to be alert for cases of measles and to ensure that their patients are up-to-date on immunization. This reminder follows the recent importation of a case of measles into British Columbia. The case arrived in BC from Tokyo on May 24, 2007 and spent two days visiting various venues in Victoria and the Lower Mainland.

The BC Centre for Disease Control has issued a media release about this case to increase awareness of the possibility of transmission. The public has been advised about the symptoms of measles and to call ahead prior to visiting a medical setting for care in order to avoid infecting others, so that arrangements can be made to assess suspect cases at the end of a clinic day and isolate them upon arrival.

If you suspect measles in a patient, please notify the Medical Health Officer on call immediately (604-527-4806) in order to facilitate investigation and contact prophylaxis and take appropriate infection control precautions.

The incubation period for measles is usually 8-12 days, with a range of 7 to 18 days. Measles is transmitted by airborne spread in addition to droplet contact and direct respiratory secretion contact, so close contact is not required for transmission to occur. Infection has been documented to occur in medical settings as late as 1 hour after the infectious person has left the airspace.

Measles vaccine is recommended in a two dose schedule for children in BC and given in two doses at age 12 and 18 months, as MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Persons born before 1957 are assumed to be immune; those born in and after 1957 should have a record of MMR receipt. A second dose of MMR vaccine is recommended for selected groups of adults including students of post-secondary colleges/ universities, health care workers, military recruits and travelers to endemic areas. The publicly-funded program provides vaccine for college/ university students and health care workers.

Several outbreaks of measles are occurring around the world right now including a large evolving outbreak in Japan, there is an ongoing possibility of imported measles cases occurring.