Travellers warned about measles from infected passenger who landed in Vancouver

The BC Centre for Disease Control says the person was on a China Southern flight that left New Delhi on the morning of June 23 and arrived in Guangzhou, China, before transferring to another flight with the same airline and arriving at Vancouver’s airport that night.
(Shutterstock)

VANCOUVER —  An alert has been issued about the potential spread of measles from an infected passenger who travelled to Vancouver from India on two flights.

The BC Centre for Disease Control says the person was on a China Southern flight that left New Delhi on the morning of June 23 and arrived in Guangzhou, China, before transferring to another flight with the same airline and arriving at Vancouver’s airport that night.

A news release from the centre says travellers on one or both of the flights as well as others who were at Vancouver International Airport on June 23 may have been exposed to the highly infectious disease that spreads through the air.

It says some potentially exposed passengers or flight crew may have been travelling to other destinations, including within Canada.

The centre says while most people would be immune to measles, infants less than a year old and those who have never been immunized against the disease are susceptible and could end up with symptoms including a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that starts on the face.

Measles incubates for seven to 21 days before symptoms develop and the centre says anyone who may have been infected would become ill by about July 15 and should call their doctor or a local health unit.