Canadian health officials have quarantined around 130 Japanese tourists in a southwestern resort after one sick member of the group tested positive for measles, local media reported on Monday.

 

The group, mostly high school students, were quarantined in the Rocky Mountain resort town of Banff after arriving from Vancouver on Sunday. The sick member was sent back to Vancouver, Canadian Television reported.

 

The Calgary Health Region said the quarantine is strictly precautionary and that the students are being tested for their immunity to measles. The results are expected on Tuesday.

 

Health officials in Vancouver are trying to reach all passengers that were on board the tourist group's flight from Japan to Vancouver, as well as anyone else who may have been exposed to the group members, the report said.

 

Hundreds of students have been infected by measles in Japan, forcing the closure of about a dozen universities for varying periods. The outbreak is believed to be Japan's largest in the past five years.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)