Measles Exposure in Island Health

Posted On: June 26, 2025

 

From: Tiffany.Akins@islandhealth.ca - Communications Advisor
 

Public health is advising of several locations where people may have been exposed to measles between June 16 and 21, 2025.

Seventeen new cases of measles have been reported in Fraser Health, Interior Health and Northern Health regions since June 19. A total of 49 cases have been reported in BC in 2025, with 12 cases currently active. There are no cases reported in Island Health. 
 
Public health is following up directly with known contacts of measles cases. However, individuals known to have measles spent time in several public locations. People may have been exposed to measles at the following locations, dates and times:

​Chilliwack, BC on June 16:

  • Mark’s - 45737 Luckakuck Way, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Redwing Shoe Store - 8249 Eagle Landing Pkwy #716, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Walmart - 8249 Eagle Landing Pkwy, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
Kamloops, BC on June 16:
  • Denny’s Restaurant - 570 Columbia St., from 12 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
  • Aberdeen Mall - 1320 Trans-Canada Hwy, from 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Earls Restaurant - 120 Summit Dr., from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
  • Shoppers Drug Mart -1210 Summit Dr. from 9:30 p.m. to 11:35 p.m.
Chilliwack, BC on June 18:
  • Ahmad Barber Shop, 7325 Vedder Rd #100, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
Kamloops, BC on June 18:
  • Castles and Cottages - 347 Victoria St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BC Ferries and Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal on June 20
  • Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal - 1 Ferry Causeway, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • 12 p.m. Coastal Celebration ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay
  • 2 p.m. Coastal Celebration ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen
  • 6 p.m. Coastal Celebration ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen
  • 8.pm. Coastal Celebration ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay
​BC Ferries is reaching out to employees and reserved customers who were onboard the identified sailings.
 
Victoria, BC on June 20
  • Hot and Cold Café - #1 - 313 Cook St., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Surrey, BC on June 20 and 21
  • Marriot Civic Autograph Hotel, 13475 Central Ave, Surrey, from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on June 20, and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 21.

What to do if you were exposed

People who are most at risk of getting measles are those born in 1970 or later who are completely unvaccinated against the disease, including children under one year of age. 
 
Please contact your local public health team if you may have been exposed and any of the following apply to you: 
 
  • are immunocompromised
  • are unvaccinated and pregnant
  • have a child under one year of age who was exposed
  • are born in 1970 or later and are unvaccinated
  • are born in 1970 or later and are unsure of your immunization status
The public health team will review your immunity to measles and provide recommendations around potential post-exposure prophylaxis.
 
Individuals exposed to the measles virus should monitor for symptoms that may develop up to three weeks after being exposed. If you were exposed between June 16 and 21, you could develop symptoms up to July 12.
 
Public health contact information:
  • Fraser Health: 604-507-5471
  • Interior Health: 1-855-549-6364
  • Island Health
    • South Island: 1-866-665-6626
    • Central Island: 1-866-770-7798
    • North Island: 1-877-887-8835
  • Northern Health virtual care clinic: 1-844-645-7811
  • Vancouver Coastal Health: 604-675-3900 or 1-855-675-3900

What to do if you develop symptoms

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread through air. People can pass the virus to others before they show symptoms. Symptoms can start between seven to 21 days after exposure. ​

Symptoms of measles include

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red eyes
  • Rash, which starts first on the face and neck, spreads to the chest, arms and legs and lasts about four to seven days.
If you become ill and suspect you may have measles, call your healthcare provider and inform them that you may have measles so they can take measures to avoid exposing others. 
 
You can also call your local health unit and ask for the communicable disease nurse or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, which provides health information and advice and is available in 130 different languages.   
Measles can cause complications like pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and even death. 
 

Protect yourself and your loved ones against measles

There has been a resurgence of measles activity in Canada in 2025, including BC, with cases occurring largely in people who were unimmunized or under immunized. There is also significant measles transmission in many parts of the world.
 
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against measles is to make sure your immunizations are up to date. Measles vaccine is given as a series of two doses. Immunization records for yourself and your child can be accessed online through Health Gateway or through your local public health unit or primary care provider. If you have additional immunization records that are not included in your health record (e.g., from out of province), they can be updated or submitted online.

Where to get immunized

  • Vaccine appointments can be booked through local public health units, community health centres or nursing stations.
  • In First Nations communities, people can also be immunized by their community health nurse at their community health centre or nursing station.
  • Some primary-care providers and travel clinics also offer vaccinations. Call in advance to check if the measles vaccine is available.
  • You can also receive the vaccine at a pharmacy. Pharmacies can vaccinate anyone over the age of 4 years old. Find a pharmacy near you on the BC Pharmacy website or call your local pharmacy to check in the measles vaccine is available. 

About measles vaccine

  • Measles vaccines are available for free and are given as a series of two doses:
    • The first dose is given as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 months of age
    • The second dose is given around kindergarten school entry (starting at 4 years of age) as the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
  • Infants as young as six months can get vaccinated against measles if they are travelling to areas where measles is spreading (including international and domestic destinations).
  • Adults should ensure they have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine if they were born in 1970 or later.
  • Individuals born between 1970 and 1994 may have only received one dose, as the second dose at 18 months of age was later introduced for those born in 1995.
  • Measles vaccines are typically not needed for those born before 1970 as most people in that age group have immunity to measles from a prior infection, before vaccination was widely available.

Learn More