May 2007

May 31, 2007, 8:25 p.m.

Information Update: Measles Issue

Federal, provincial and local public health authorities have been managing the response to a single case of measles among a tour group of students and their chaperones visiting Canada from Japan.

As part of this response, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommended that the 41 members of the tour group who tested as non-immune - indicating they were never vaccinated or exposed to the virus - be screened at the airport prior to departure on May 31.

During the screening, one individual showed early signs of possible measles. The student will undergo further medical examination before returning home. As well, because there is a risk the other non-immune students may develop symptoms during the flight, and because the immune status of the other passengers is not known, this group of individuals will remain in Canada for further examination.

The Public Health Agency understands this situation may cause inconvenience and stress, and every effort is being made to accommodate the needs of those being kept in Canada.

The decision to keep the 41 individuals in Canada was taken under the provisions of the Quarantine Act. The new Quarantine Act, which came into force on December 12th, 2006, is designed to prevent travellers suffering from serious communicable diseases from entering or leaving the country.

Background

A case of measles in a traveller visiting Canada from Japan was reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada on May 28. The student, after visiting several tourist destinations in Victoria, Vancouver and Burnaby, was admitted to hospital and later confirmed to have measles. Measles is a highly contagious disease that has been virtually eliminated in Canada, but still exists in other parts of the world.

As a precaution, local public health authorities in BC contacted those who may have come in contact with the ill youth to assess their susceptibility to infection and offer preventative medication.

The students and their chaperones were isolated upon arrival in Banff. The students were tested and 41 non-immune individuals were given medication (immune globulin) that can help prevent or delay onset of illness, and minimize symptoms.

The risk of transmission to the general population remains low because most children in Canada routinely receive two doses of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine between their first and fifth birthdays and most jurisdictions conducted catch-up campaigns with measles containing vaccine in the 1990s.

Keeping up to date with routine immunization is key to measles prevention for Canadians, including those traveling abroad. Two doses of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended and are 99% effective in providing protection from measles.

No cases have been identified in Canada to date in relation to this case. It is possible that there will be sporadic cases and only limited transmission to those who are un-immunized or have received only one dose of MMR vaccine.

There are several outbreaks of measles occurring around the world, including a large outbreak in Tokyo, Japan. Routine immunization of Canadians is key to preventing transmission of disease within Canada. Canadian are advised to contact a travel medicine specialist before travelling internationally.

For more information, please visit:

• BC Health Alert
• About Measles