Interior Health has issued a public safety announcement after a B.C. visitor travelled to the Elk Valley area while infected with measles.
The individual travelled to the McDonald’s at 2110 Middletown Place in Sparwood last Sunday, June 8, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
While there are no measles cases in Interior Health at this time, the health care agency is following up with people who have been exposed to complete contact tracing.
“Please call ahead to your doctor’s office or the hospital before you visit if you think you may have been exposed to measles and have developed symptoms,” wrote Interior Health. “This will allow the office or hospital to make a plan to care for you safely and prevent other people from potential exposure during your visit.”
Symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose, and red, inflamed eyes. A rash that lasts for at least three days then starts on the face and the neck before spreading down to the legs.
If you haven’t been vaccinated against measles, aren’t sure, are immunocompromised, have a child under a year old, or are pregnant, the agency asks you to call 1-855-549-6364 to speak with the disease team.
Anyone who may have been exposed but has no symptoms is asked to call 8-1-1 or a local public health centre to speak to a nurse.
The risk to the general public is still considered low. You can check your vaccination status online through the Interior Health website.
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