Interior Health confirms measles case in Kamloops with 5 potential exposure spots

Interior Health (IH) has started contact tracing following the confirmation of a measles case in Kamloops.

While the health authority says “the risk of the broader public is considered low,” anyone who was at the following spots during the times listed below may have been exposed to measles.

Denny’s Restaurant

• 570 Columbia St., Kamloops, BC
• Exposure date and time: June 16, 2025, between noon and 2:45 pm

Aberdeen Mall

• 1320 Trans-Canada Hwy, Kamloops, BC
• Exposure date and time: June 16, 2025, between 1 pm and 4 pm

Earls Restaurant

• 1210 Summit Dr., Kamloops, BC
• Exposure date and time: June 16, 2025, between 6:30 pm and 11:30 pm

Shoppers Drug Mart

• 1210 Summit Dr., Kamloops, BC
• Exposure date and time: June 16, 2025, between 9:30 pm and 11:35 pm

Castles and Cottages

• 347 Victoria St., Kamloops, BC
• Exposure date and time: June 18, 2025, between 9 am and 4 pm

IH says this is the first confirmed case of measles in its jurisdiction this year, but there are other cases around the province which may impact people in this region as they travel during the summer.”

“Individuals exposed to the measles virus should monitor for symptoms that may develop up to three weeks after being exposed,” IH explained.

“These include fever, dry cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that usually starts on the face and spreads rapidly down to the rest of the body.”

Anyone who develops symptoms of the measles should contact their health care provider or hospital before visiting them so they can take precautions to prevent spread of the disease.

Measles is a highly-infectious disease transmitted by airborne spread, but IH says most people in Canada will be immune due to prior immunization or previous infection.

According to the health authority, people who are at risk of getting measles are:

• Those who have never had measles disease.
• Those who have not had two doses of a measles vaccine on or after 12 months of age.

IH also has the following tips for people who are not fully against measles and may have been exposed:

• If you were born in 1970 or later and have not had two doses of measles vaccine, you should get a booster dose of measles vaccine. It is most effective if received within three days of being exposed but still can be received after that.
• Certain people should not get the measles vaccine. These include babies less than six months of age, pregnant people and people with certain immune conditions. If you, or your child, are in one of these groups, please call your local Public Health team as soon as possible and no later than six days after being exposed. You may be advised that you, or your child, receive a medication that can prevent measles disease. This is also provided free of charge.

Anyone potentially exposed to measles who has not been vaccinated against the disease, or is unsure of their vaccination status, is asked to call 1-855-549-6364 and leave a message.

The same is true for anyone potentially exposed who is immunocompromised, pregnant or has an exposed child under one year of age.

Once your message is received, the IH communicable disease team will review your vaccine history, determine your immunity to measles and provide recommendations.

Measles vaccines are available for free at local community health centres and pharmacists may also have the vaccine available for anyone over the age of five. Learn more here.