Measles warning rescinded for Victoria Montessori school after tests come back negative

Island Health has confirmed that lab reports from a suspected measles case in Victoria have come back negative.

Medical Health Officer, Dr. Dee Hoyano, has rescinded the instruction that children at Selkirk Montessori School who are not immunized not attend school for 21 days.

Earlier on Monday the health authority said it was investigating a possible case of measles, and was concerned that up to 300 students may have been exposed at Selkirk Montessori School in Victoria, B.C.

Victoria Butterfly Gardens and WalmartSupercentreare also no longer considered potential exposure sites.

Learn more about measles

Symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, diarrhea and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the chest.

Anyone born after 1970 that has never had the measles infectionor who did not have two doses of vaccine are at highest risk of measles, and Island Health advises them to get fully immunized immediately.

There is no current requirement for B.C. children to show proof of vaccination at school, but mandatory reporting is likely to come as students head back to school in the fall.

On April 10, 2019 the Island Health Authority confirmed a total of six cases of measles infection on the South Island.

Common myths about the MMR vaccine

Debunked: 5 myths about the MMR vaccine

6 years ago

Duration 2:49

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and CBC reporter Bethany Lindsay address five misconceptions about the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella.