Measles outbreak spreads north in B.C.

B.C.'s measles outbreak appears to have spread to northeastern areas of the province, after doctors confirmed two new cases of the disease in the Fort St. John and Fort Nelson areas on Thursday.

The new cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 44, not including suspected but unconfirmed cases, said the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

Northern Health spokeswoman Eryn Collins said the virus had not been detected in the north in more than six years and the two new cases involve people who weren't immunized.

"They are cases that have occurred in both adults and children and in all of the cases, they're occurring in individuals who don't have the adequate protection from the disease whether through immunization or previous exposure to the measles virus," she said Thursday.

"We're just reiterating the importance of people ensuring that their vaccinations are up to date. We're encouraging individuals who were born after 1956 contact their doctor or nearest public health unit to make arrangements to be vaccinated," said Collins.

First detected in Vancouver area

The news comes after eight Vancouver students tested positive earlier this week, prompting school officials to send their unvaccinated classmates home for three weeks.

The disease was first detected in a Vancouver area household anda southern Interiorhousehold in late March, and was linked to unvaccinated travellers returning from overseas.

"It is suspected that at least two out-of-country visitors brought measles into Vancouver sometime in February or early March, as two separate strains of the virus have been identified," said a statement from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control earlier this week.

So far, 17 cases of the measles have been detected in the Fraser Valley, 17 in the Vancouver area, seven in the southern Interior, two in northern B.C. and one on Vancouver island.