Measles cases have risen in Canada over the past year, but so far there is no sign of it in Prince George.
This year has seen a significant increase in measles and rubella cases across the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
However, the good news is that Northern Health reports that Prince George has been measles-free since 2014, despite cases in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Measles is a highly contagious disease with an incubation period of up to 21 days, making its spread difficult to track. It is easily transmitted by individuals who are susceptible, especially in confined spaces such as airplanes.
As of 2025, the Government of Canada reports 224 measles cases across these four provinces, with 173 confirmed and 51 considered probable.
Ontario, in particular, is grappling with a large measles outbreak, with 350 cases reported since Oct. 18, 2024, and 140 cases reported in 2025.
These outbreaks are especially concerning given that Canada reported only 12 confirmed cases of measles in 2023.
British Columbia has experienced several small outbreaks in Vancouver, bringing the total to four confirmed cases. Two of these cases occurred in February, with the two most recent reported in the first week of March. The latest case followed a trip to Southeast Asia.
These two new cases are unrelated to the earlier case identified in February.
Fraser Health is advising anyone who travelled on Flight KE 75 from Seoul, South Korea, to Vancouver on Feb. 17, 2025, to monitor for potential exposure to measles.
Northern Health states that measles can lead to serious or life-threatening complications, particularly among infants and young children.
The virus spreads through airborne droplets that are coughed, sneezed, or exhaled by an infected person. These droplets can remain airborne for hours, making air travel one of the most frequent modes of transmission.
Typical measles symptoms include:
- Fever, cough, runny nose, and watery, inflamed eyes
- Small red spots with white or bluish-white centres in the mouth
- A dusky red, blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads across the body, typically appearing on the third to seventh day of illness and lasting four to seven days
Measles can cause severe complications, especially in unvaccinated infants. One in 10 cases will lead to ear infections or pneumonia, one in 1,000 will result in measles encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can cause permanent brain damage, and one in 3,000 cases is fatal.
The most serious complications occur in children under the age of five.
Measles can also cause long-term complications, including a rare, fatal neurological condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which can develop seven to 10 years after recovering from measles.
Northern Health notes there is no known cure for measles, and the best protection is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This vaccine is typically given to children at 24 months of age.
The latest data from the BC Centre for Disease Control's Childhood Immunization Coverage Dashboard shows that MMR vaccination rates for two-year-olds are below the provincial average of 81.7 per cent across Northern Health regions.
Vaccination rates are 79.5 per cent in the Northern Interior, 73.8 per cent in the Northwest, and 68.4 per cent in the Northeast.
The recent drop in vaccination rates is likely attributed to vaccine hesitancy, which has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northern Health encourages parents to consult with their primary care provider or a public health nurse if they have concerns about the MMR vaccine and to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date.
