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From the Office of the Provincial Health Officer: Advisory on measles diagnosis and reporting


Jun 24, 2025

​​This message is being shared by BCCNM on behalf of the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, Ministry of Health.


  • ​There has been a recent resurgence of measles activity in Canada, the United States, and Europe. There is ongoing risk of importation and spread, particularly among unvaccinated populations in B.C.
  • Northern Health Authority is responding to multiple lab-confirmed measles cases in Northeastern B.C. near Fort St. John. Multiple other health authorities have also reported measles cases.
  • Measles is a reportable disease, and clinicians are required to report to the Regional Health Authority Communicable Disease (CD) Unit confirmed cases and those for whom clinical suspicion for measles is high based on susceptibility, exposure history, and symptoms. 
  • Clinicians are urged to review and update patients' measles vaccines at every opportunity, particularly at this time of heightened measles activity in British Columbia.
  • Clinicians are also urged to ensure they themselves are protected against measles.
  • People are considered immune to measles if they:
    • Have 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine
    • Were born before 1970 (1957 for health-care workers)those born before these dates are considered immune through natural infection with measles, those born after these dates require 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine to be immune.
    • Have lab evidence of immunity (see note below about the role of serology)

Testing for measles

  • Consider a measles diagnosis in patients presenting with a febrile rash illness and other clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza, conjunctivitis), in the setting of potential exposure or travel to an area of high measles prevalence, and particularly in the absence of measles immunity.
  • A nasopharyngeal or throat/nose swab for NAT/PCR is the preferred method for measles diagnosis, ideally within 7 days of rash onset. A urine sample for PCR can also be submitted within 14 days of rash onset.
  • Measles serology testing should not be routinely performed to confirm immunity. In cases where immunization records are not available and immunity is unknown, immunization with a measles-containing vaccine is preferred.​

References and further information


Regional Health Authority CD Unit contacts

Fraser H​ealth: 
604-​507-5471
Interior Health: 
Business hours: 1-8​66-778-7736
After business hours: 1-866-457-5648

Island​ Health: 
South Island: 1-866-665-6626
Central Island: 1-866-770-7798
North ​Island: 1-877-887-8835

Northern Health:
Business hours: 250-645-3794
After business hours: 1-833-214-3274
​​Vancouver Coastal Health:  
​Business​​ hours: 1-855-675-3900
After business hours: 604-527-4893​




900 – 200 Granville St
Vancouver, BC  V6C 1S4
Canada

info@bccnm​.ca
604.742.6200​
​Toll-free 1.866.880.7101 (within Canada only) ​


We acknowledge the rights and title of the First Nations on whose collective unceded territories encompass the land base colonially known as British Columbia. We give specific thanks to the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh-ulh Sníchim speaking Peoples the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), on whose unceded territories BCCNM’s office is located. We also give thanks for the medicines of these territories and recognize that laws, governance, and health systems tied to these lands and waters have existed here for over 9000 years.

We also acknowledge the unique and distinct rights, including rights to health and wellness, of First Nations, Inuit​ and Métis peoples from elsewhere in Canada who now live in British Columbia. As leaders in the settler health system, we acknowledge our responsibilities to these rights under international, national, and provincial law.​