Two airline passengers arrive in B.C. with measles: health officials

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VANCOUVER — Health officials in Vancouver say two people who arrived in the city on a flight from Beijing have tested positive for measles.

Vancouver Coastal Health says the passengers would have been infectious when they arrived on Saturday aboard Air China Flight CA991.

The health authority says people who are not immunized are at risk, and passengers whose vaccinations are not up to date should visit a doctor, public-health unit or walk-in clinic.

It says people born before 1957 are considered to be immune and don’t need a vaccination.

But those born between 1957 and 1970 should have one dose, and those born after 1970 should have two doses of the vaccination.

Serious complications like inflammation of the brain and brain damage, convulsions and deafness can result from the highly infectious illness spread through the air.

The health authority says measles is now rare in Canada but one person in 3,000 dies from the disease.