February 10, 1997

 

y

 

___by Jim Chliboyko

rovincial health officials spent the
weekend working out the details of a
massive vaccination campaign to
combat a spreading SFU-based outbreak of
ithe red measels. There have been 56 con-
irmed cases since the first case was diag-
nosed a week and a half ago. Of these cases,
45 have been connected to SFU. All are
ple born after 1956, and most patients are
ple in their 20s.
Yet, according to Lisa Simpson of the
Ministry of Health, “There is no need to
anic. The vaccinations are just a precau-
ionary measure.” The campaign will make
its way to Douglas College campuses late
his week or early next week, said
impson.

Though the outbreak appears to be

argely linked to post secondary institu-
tions, according to a Ministry of Health
news release, the school-based approach to
ithe mass vaccination is more cautionary
than anything. Despite the alarmist claims
f The Vancouver Province, the only other
campus effected is BCIT, and the one
confirmed case there had a connection to

FU. “We are concerned that it could
pread through campuses, though,” said
impson. “You students, you mingle, have
rinks together....” Simpson also cited
ter-campus sporting events as a possible
ehicle for viral spread.

Red measels, a highly infectious viral
isease, begins with ‘prodrome’ symp-
oms: runny nose, coughing, sore eyes, and
fever. Rashes and sensitivity to light are
also common to measles patients. (Sneez-
g is generally not a symptom, according
o Doreen Fluery, Nursing Supervisor at

   
  
 
  
 
   
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
 
 
   
  
   
  
   
   
   

 

photo of one of the victims. Could this be you next week? Only your doctor knows for sure.

The press release from the Ministry of
Health outlines the disease’s timeline:
“The time between exposure to the virus
and development of fever can range from

    

 

the New Westminster Health Unit.) People seven to 18 days. Once the rash appears,
exhibiting any of these symptoms are
encouraged to stay home. Furthermore, -
those who suspect they may be sick should
contact their doctor or local clinic by

usually three to five days after initial
symptoms (usually fever and cough), the
disease gradually becomes less conta-
gious. It can be easily spread to others
during the period just before onset of
symptoms (fever) to four days after the
onset of the rash.”

The measles can be dangerous. Says
Allison Bell of the BC Centre of Disease

 

WARNING
Naked
Bum

Page 11

LGBC - 3
Voodoo - 4
Opeth - 9

Inciting Mass Hysteria since 1976 Volume #21 - Issue #13

SiG HS!

Measels outbreak and alarmist provincial
media have BC students running in terror

(Province-like
glahmiar
headline)

Control, “This is not always a mild
disease. Measles can be serious in adults,
and complications do occur, including ear
infections, fever, rashes, pneumonia and,
in rare cases, brain damage or death.”

Vaccination for measles will also be
available for pregnant women and the
immunodepressed. While the regular
vaccine may be too strong for these
groups, immunoglobulin (also known as
gammaglobulin) is a popular and effective
alternative. Fleury advises these groups to
err on the side of caution. “If I was a
person who had just had a lot of chemo-
therapy, or if 1 were HIV positive or had a
young child, I would not be doing a lot of
going out,” she said.

The last measels outbreak in BC was in
1986, when over 7000 cases were reported.
Simpson said that a majority of those cases
were secondary school students. Epidemi-
ologists had predicted an outbreak for ’96
or ‘97. The prediction, based on a ten-year
cycle of measels outbreaks, led to a mass
vaccination of BC children and grade
school students last year. Though those
who received shots in 1996 should be safe
from the virus, officials would still like to
verify their vaccination records. “Even
though they should be okay, we would like
them to show up anyway,” said Simpson.

The mass vaccination will be a huge
operation, costing over one million. Health
officials plan to poke 300 000 students,
faculty, administration and health care
workers.

The Ministry of Health and the BC
Centre for Disease Control will announce
further, more specific measures on Tues-

day, Feb. 11. @