Measles Case Confirmed in B.C.; Public Health Urges Vaccination

June 24, 2025 — British Columbia Health officials have confirmed a case of measles in a young child in British Columbia — the first confirmed case in the province in several years.

The child, who was unvaccinated, is recovering at home.

Public health teams are working to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that spreads quickly, especially among unvaccinated populations.

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic blotchy rash that typically begins on the face and spreads. Complications can be severe, especially in young children.

Health authorities are urging British Columbians to check their immunization records. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, emphasized the importance of vaccination: “With increased global travel and lower immunization rates in some regions, the risk of measles returning is very real. Vaccination is the best protection.”

For more information, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HLTH0030-000999