Island Health is advising people get vaccinated after two new cases of the measles were confirmed on Southern Vancouver Island on Saturday, bringing the total cases in BC this year up to 25
Island Health is asking unimmunized people who may have been at the Life Labs and West Coast Medical Imaging on Hillside Avenue on the 2nd, or LifeLabs on West Saanich Road on the 3rd, to get vaccinated
Island Health also says individuals should also contact their doctors if they were at:
- Camosun College's Lansdowne Campus Young or Fisher buildings, and the #27 bus on March 27th
- The Victoria Health Unit on March 29th
- London Drugs on Yates street and the #27 bus on the 30th and 31st
- Hillside Mall, including Canadian Tire and Thrifty Foods, and Subway Sandwiches on Shelbourne on the 31st.
They are asking people to go to the Saanich Health Unit (250-519-5100) or the Victoria Health Unit (250-388-2200), both of which are open Sunday until 4 o'clock, and receive a free MMR vaccines.
Measles is highly contagious, and spreads through breathing, coughing, and sneezing, and can live for up to 2 hours in an airspace.
The virus, which initially causes coughing, fever, diarrhoea and red and watery eyes, before developing into a rash on the face and body, can last up to 10 days, and in rare cases can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, blindness, deafness and even death.
Island Health asks that people call ahead before going to their doctor, in order to help prevent transmitting the virus.