Alberta’s measles outbreaks are now the worst in nearly half a century

Alberta is currently experiencing a surge in measles cases that hasn’t been seen since the 1970s. The province reported 29 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total since the outbreaks began in March to 868. This surpasses the levels seen during a surge in 1986, when 854 cases were reported. The last time case counts were higher than this was in 1979.

Craig Jenne, a professor at the University of Calgary, expressed shock at the current numbers, stating that Alberta is reverting back to a time before widespread vaccination programs were in place. Alberta launched its routine immunization program for the MMR vaccine in 1982, with two doses becoming routine between 1996 and 1997.

Health officials are warning that the official case count is just the “tip of the iceberg,” with many cases going unreported and undetected. The south, central, and north zones of Alberta continue to be the hardest hit by the measles outbreak. Alberta Health Services has issued standing measles exposure advisories for various locations within the north zone, including the Hamlet of La Crete, St. Theresa General Hospital in Fort Vermilion, and Northwest Health Centre in High Level.

As of June 7, 75 Albertans have been hospitalized due to measles, with 12 people requiring intensive care. The majority of cases have been among the unimmunized population. Alberta is offering early and extra measles vaccine doses to babies as young as six months old in the affected zones.

Measles can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation, premature delivery, and death. Children under the age of five, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable. Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a red rash that appears a few days after the fever starts.

Alberta Health provides detailed information on measles case counts, symptoms, and free immunizations on their website. A measles hotline is also available for individuals with questions or symptoms, advising them to stay home and call before visiting any healthcare facility. The current measles outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccination and herd immunity in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.