Alberta adds 48 new measles cases including 46 in South Zone

Alberta's worst measles outbreak in a quarter-century is only getting worse, with case numbers climbing again over the weekend.

Alberta health officials are continuing to warn communities in southern Alberta about the risk of measles after reporting another 48 new cases in the province over the weekend.

As of 12 p.m. Tuesday, the province reported 46 new cases in the South Zone, along with one in the North Zone and another in the Central Zone.

That raises the provincial total to 486 cases – including 344 in the South Zone, 92 in the Central Zone, 33 in the North Zone, 11 in Calgary and six in Edmonton.

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Craig Jenne, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Calgary, said the measles virus has become established in the community in Alberta.

“We’re seeing broad-level transmission. And really, there was no evidence that this was starting to slow,” Jenne said.

“So as we come out of a long weekend, it’s not at all surprising to see the numbers that were posted today.”

Jenne added that the number of cases, adjusted for population, has surpassed those seen in Ontario.

“Adjusting for population, we’ve actually almost caught up to Ontario’s total number. And that is fighting measles in Alberta for only two months, where it took Ontario ten months to get to that level,” he said.

Of the 486 total cases, 18 are active, or within the period of time a person can transmit the virus to another person, and 468 are past that period.

“Measles is an extremely contagious disease that is spread easily through the air. The best protection against measles is to ensure you are up to date with your immunizations,” the province said in an update on its website.

Measles cases are largely affecting younger people, with 149 of the cases in the under-five age group, 231 in people aged five to 17 years, 103 in the 18 to 54 age group and three among people 55 years and older.

“Cases have been reported in all zones of the province, with the highest numbers in the south and central zones,” the province said.

“Due to the number of people in these areas who may not be immune to measles, it’s possible that some cases are going undetected or unreported, and that some close contacts of measles cases in the South Zone may not receive direct notification from Public Health.”

The province is warning anyone in or planning to visit Two Hills, Taber MD, the County of Lethbridge, or the County of Forty Mile who is not immunized that the risk of being exposed to measles is significantly higher than in other parts of the province.

Potential exposures

Alberta Health Services (AHS) shared an alert on Tuesday afternoon regarding possible measles exposures in communities around southern Alberta.

AHS said the warning comes after people with confirmed measles cases were in public while infectious.

Anyone who was at the affected locations who was born in or after 1970 with fewer than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine may be at risk and should monitor for symptoms.

The locations include:

• Lethbridge Public Health – Melcor Centre, 200 4 Ave. S, Lethbridge. May 9: approximately 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.;
• The Hut Café – 766 Main St., Pincher Creek. May 11: approximately 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.;
• No Frills – 819 Main St., Pincher Creek. May 11: approximately 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.;
• Walmart – 1100 Table Mountain St., Pincher Creek. May 11: approximately 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, emergency department. May 12 and May 13: approximately 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
• Crowsnest Medical Clinic – 11001 20 Ave. #1, Blairmore. May 14: approximately 3:25 p.m. to 6 p.m.;
• Side Street Stylz – 12305 20 Ave., Blairmore. May 14: approximately 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
• Resilience Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – #102, 640 Kingsway Ave. S.E.: Medicine Hat. May 14, approximately 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.;
• Boston Pizza – #500, 1751 Strachan Rd. S.E., Medicine Hat. May 14: approximately 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and
• Shoppers Drug Mart – 2045 Mayor Magrath Dr. S #102, Lethbridge. May 16: approximately 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3 C or higher along with a cough, runny nose and/or red eyes.

A rash also develops three to seven days after the fever starts, normally starting behind the ears and on the face, then spreading down the body and on the arms and legs. The rash appears red and blotchy on lighter skin colours and purple or darker than the skin around it for individuals with darker skin tones.

With files from CTV News Calgary’s Timm Bruch