Alberta measles cases continue to climb

Alberta continues to see an increase in measles cases, adding several more to the province’s total as of Friday.

The province said in a May 16 update that there are 438 confirmed cases.

Twenty-nine new ones in the South Zone bring the area total to 298, the largest in the province. The next highest is the Central Zone at 91. Edmonton and Calgary zones have six and 11, respectively. There are 26 active cases, while 35 people are hospitalized.

By age group, 219 children between five and 17 years old and 136 children under five have measles.

Meanwhile, the province says there are outbreaks in all health zones. An outbreak is defined as two or more cases that are linked.

“Measles is an extremely contagious disease and the virus spreads easily through the air,” an Alberta Health Services (AHS) statement reads.

Alberta has the second highest number of cases in the country, with Ontario having over 1,600 cases as of Friday.

Considered eliminated due to vaccinations since 1998 in Canada and 2000 in the United States, there are now around 1,023 measles cases in the U.S., with 718 in the state of Texas. The Mexican state of Chihuahua had 1,306 measles cases and one death as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.

AHS warned Thursday that the Lethbridge Chinook Regional Hospital is a site with potential exposure, and added a few more locations to be cautious of Friday after infectious individuals reportedly visited them.

The locations are in the South Zone in the cities and towns of Lethbridge, Taber, Newell, Brooks, and Raymond.

• Taber Aqua Fun Centre on May 8 from 10-11 a.m.
• Newell Associate Medical Clinic on 220 4 Street W in Brooks on May 8 from around 12:15-3:15 p.m.
• APL Brooks Lab Patient Collection Site on May 8 from 3:10-5:10 p.m.
• Taber Health Centre Emergency Department on May 9 from 1:30-6 p.m.
• The Boston Pizza on 2041 Mayor Magrath Drive South in Lethbridge on May 13 from 6:30-9 p.m.
• Raymond Health Centre Emergency Department on May 13 from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on May 14

Several more locations are also being flagged for exposure, including Lethbridge Polytechnic on May 8, 9, 12, and 13 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on each of those days.

• Zum’s Eatery & Mercantile in Waterton Park on May 10 from 12-5 p.m.
• Walmart Supercentre on 1100 Table Mountain Street in Pincher Creek on May 10 from 5-9:30 p.m.
• Medicine Hat Regional Hospital in the Emergency Department on May 5 from 9:25-11:50 p.m.
• Shoppers Drug Mart on 5800 46 Avenue in Taber on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

AHS says anyone who attended any of those locations at the times listed, was born in or after 1970, and has fewer than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine may be at risk for developing measles.

Those individuals are being asked to monitor for symptoms of measles and are strongly encouraged to review their immunization records.

Symptoms include a fever of 38.3 C or higher, cough, runny nose and/or red eyes, and a rash that appears 3-7 days after fever starts, which can begin behind the ears and on the face and spread down to the body and to the arms and legs.

AHS says measles complications can include ear infections, pneumonia, brain inflammation, premature delivery, and “rarely death.”

United Conservative Party Minister Adriana LaGrange, now in charge of primary and preventative health services, recently announced a new measles information campaign amid the increased numbers, and multiple healthcare professionals sounded the alarm on continued measles exposure in the province.

She said an advertising campaign urging vaccinations will begin mid-May, though no date has been listed.

Alberta has a new measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 where people can check their immunization records or book appointments. More information, including the province’s measles numbers, can be found online.

With files from The Associated Press