The B.C. Centre for Disease Control issued a health alert on August 14 about an infectious individual with measles who travelled through the Vancouver International Airport twice over the past few weeks.

This person arrived in Vancouver on Air Canada flight 0004 from Narita International Airport in Tokyo at 4:05 p.m. on July 30. The passenger then transferred to Air Canada Jazz flight 8125, which left at 1:50 p.m. and arrived at Portland International Airport at 2:47 p.m.

Then on August 6, the traveller boarded Alaska Airlines flight 2536 which left Portland at 9:45 a.m. and arrived in Vancouver at 10:55 a.m. The individual then proceeded to board Norwegian Cruise Lines (voyage number 2018080806), which left Vancouver at 4 p.m. on a route to Seward, Alaska.

Measles is highly infectious and can be transmitted by air.

All passengers, travellers, staff, and crew who may have come in contact with this person is asked to check their immunization status.

Symptoms usually develop within seven to 21 days of exposure and can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash. Anyone infected by this particular case of measles would develop symptoms by around August 27. More information about measles and vaccination can be found at the HealthLink B.C. website.

If you suspect you have measles or are ill, health officials advise calling your healthcare provider before visiting so that arrangements can be made to prevent infection to other people.

To find a public-health unit to speak to a communicable disease nurse, visit the Immunize B.C. website, or call 811 to contact HealthLink B.C.

A previous recent alert about an infectious traveller with the measles was issued on July 4 when a passenger arrived in Vancouver on June 23 on a flight from New Delhi, India.