A new measles infection has been reported in the Lower Mainland

A new measles infection has been reported in the Lower Mainland, involving a visitor from Ontario who traveled to Vancouver and Chilliwack on April 20, 2025.

Health officials from Public Health, Workplace Health, and Infection Prevention and Control are reaching out to individuals who may have been in contact with the virus. The public may have been exposed to measles if they were in any of the following locations:
- Air Canada Flight AC2105 from Toronto to Vancouver on April 20, 2025, departing at 8:38 a.m. and landing at 10:09 a.m.
- The domestic arrivals area of Vancouver International Airport (YVR), including the baggage claim, from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on April 20, 2025.
- Chilliwack Coliseum from 12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on April 20, 2025.
- Coast Chilliwack Hotel by APA, 45920 First Avenue, Chilliwack, V2P 7K1, from 1 p.m. on April 20 until 12 a.m. on April 25, 2025. Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus. .

Most Canadians are immune to measles due to vaccination or prior infection. Individuals who may have been exposed to the virus should keep an eye out for symptoms that can appear up to three weeks post-exposure. Symptoms include fever, dry cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that typically starts on the face and rapidly spreads to the rest of the body. If you experience measles symptoms, please remain at home and contact Fraser Health Public Health at 604-507-5471 for guidance. If you need urgent medical attention, inform your healthcare provider beforehand so they can take necessary precautions to prevent transmission. Individuals at risk for measles include:
 - Those who have never had measles. - Those who have not received two doses of the measles vaccine after 12 months of age. For those who are not fully protected and may have been exposed, we recommend the following:
- If you were born in 1970 or later and have not had two doses of the measles vaccine, you should get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccine is most effective if administered within three days of exposure but can still be given later.
- Certain individuals should avoid the measles vaccine, including infants under six months, pregnant individuals, and those with specific immune conditions. If you or your child are in one of these categories, please contact your local Public Health office as soon as possible, and no later than six days after exposure. You may be advised to receive medication to prevent measles, which is provided at no charge. For residents of Fraser Health, please contact the nearest Public Health unit: Free measles vaccinations are available to those at risk who have been exposed. Call to schedule an appointment at a Public Health Unit. Telephone booking hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- For residents of Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Agassiz, and Hope, call 604-702-4906. - For all other areas of Fraser Health, call 604-476-7087. Click here for a list of public health unit locations. You can also book an appointment at a community pharmacy. Find a local pharmacy offering the MMR vaccine here. The measles vaccine is available free of charge at public health units and select family doctors and walk-in clinics. Pharmacists can provide vaccinations for adults and children over five years old. Please call ahead to confirm availability at your chosen location. If you plan to travel to an area experiencing an outbreak of measles, we recommend the following vaccination guidelines:

- Infants: Children aged 6-12 months should receive an early dose of the MMR vaccine for protection before traveling. Note that this early dose will not count toward their vaccination series and must be repeated at 12 months of age.
- Young children with one dose: Children traveling to areas with ongoing measles outbreaks who received their first dose at 12 months should get their second dose early, with a minimum of four weeks between doses.
- Adults born in 1970 or later should receive both doses of a measles vaccine. - Those born before 1970 should receive one dose if they are not immune, especially if traveling to areas with active measles transmission. For more information about measles, visit www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/measles.