6 days Ago By Jonny Wakefield
Alberta Health Services has released a public warning after detecting four new measles cases , including one linked to Edmonton International Airport. In a news release Friday evening, AHS said four new cases have been reported in central Alberta, including one person on an Edmonton to Mexico flight on April 2 who may have infected others. There are now 30 confirmed cases in the health authority’s central zone, which includes Red Deer, Two Hills, Drumheller, Drayton Valley, Lamont and other surrounding communities.
The news came as the province’s top doctor urged Albertans to get a free vaccine, calling such outbreaks “highly preventable.” “The measles vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and complications and is readily available to eligible Albertans,” Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Mark Joffe said in a Friday statement.
A vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure can prevent infection. Joffe’s remarks came after criticism about his visibility during the outbreak, with Dr. Richard Owen, president of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association, saying the provincial government’s efforts to boost measles immunization are inadequate.
Those rates sit at 69 per cent for the entire province — well below the 95 per cent required for herd immunity. Some smaller communities have especially low immunization levels, including High Level, which reported just 11 per cent. A quarter of people have been vaccinated in Two Hills County.
Joffe said there were 58 confirmed measles cases in the province as of Friday. The province’s south and central zones were of particular concern, he said. “While the number of cases is concerning, I want to let Albertans know that public health officials are managing the cases and contacts as well as working with local leadership to support affected communities,” he said in his statement.
Joffe estimated 48 of the confirmed cases were “likely” past the period in which they could be passed to another person. The latest public exposure in the central region happened on April 2 at the Edmonton International Airport check-in and international departures area between 7 a.m.
and 11 a.m. The infected person was on Sunwing Flight 4387 to Cancun.
AHS says anyone who attended these locations and was born in or after 1970 and has fewer than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine is at risk of developing the illness. “They should self-monitor themselves (for) symptoms of measles and are strongly encouraged to review their immunization records,” AHS said. “Measles is an extremely contagious disease and is spread easily through the air.
” “If symptoms of measles do develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call Health Link at 811 before visiting any health care facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy,” AHS said. Symptoms include fevers of at least 38.3 C; cough, runny nose and red eyes, and a rash that appears three to seven days after the onset of fever, which usually begins behind the ears and spreads to the face and down the body.
Complications can include ear infections, pneumonia, brain inflammation, premature delivery, and death in rare cases. Pregnant individuals, infants and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk. “Infants who are six months up to and including 11 months of age are recommended to receive an early dose of vaccine,” AHS said.
“However, they should still receive their routine two doses after they reach one year of age.” AHS added measles is “currently circulating in and around” the community of Two Hills. It recommends those who lived in the area receive additional immunizations.
Anyone seeking additional information can contact Health Link at 811, or text “measles” to 88111. Immunization records can be checked by texting “vaccine record” to the same number. —with files from Jackie Carmichael jwakefield@postmedia.
com x.com/jonnywakefield @jonnywakefield.bsky.
social RelatedOpinion: Public health under attack from misinformation, measles; Where is Alberta's top doctor?'Why would you choose to get ill?': Doctor issues warning as Alberta measles cases soar Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here .
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun .
.
