Why are measles case counts climbing so high in Alberta? Experts weigh in

Infectious disease experts in Alberta are sounding the alarm about the rapid spread of measles in the province, with case counts far surpassing those in neighbouring provinces. As of Friday, Alberta reported a total of 326 confirmed measles cases, with an additional 116 cases reported just last week. This surge in cases has experts concerned about the ability to contain the outbreak.

Craig Jenne, a professor of microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary, stated that Alberta is experiencing the largest growth in measles cases per capita in Canada. He emphasized the importance of vaccination status in preventing the spread of measles, noting that Alberta’s vaccination rates are lower than most other jurisdictions.

According to provincial data, only 71.6% of seven-year-olds in Alberta were up-to-date with both doses of the measles vaccine in 2024, well below the 95% threshold recommended for population-level protection. In comparison, Saskatchewan reported higher vaccination rates, with 87.4% of seven-year-olds fully vaccinated with two doses of the measles vaccine in the same year.

Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta, highlighted the impact of low vaccination rates in localized areas with close-knit communities. She explained that transmission in these communities with low vaccination rates can lead to rapid spread of the disease, similar to what has been observed in Ontario.

Areas such as Two Hills County, High Level, the County of Forty Mile, and the Municipal District of Taber in Alberta have reported significantly low vaccination rates, contributing to the outbreak. Urban areas tend to have higher vaccination rates than rural parts of the province, further exacerbating the spread of measles in certain regions.

Former chief medical officer of health for Alberta, Dr. James Talbot, expressed concerns about the delay in response to the outbreak and emphasized the importance of increasing vaccination rates to prevent severe complications and potential deaths. The provincial government has announced plans to improve immunization accessibility and launch an ad campaign promoting vaccination, but the impact of these measures will take time to be realized.

In the meantime, public health officials are working diligently to contain the outbreak and limit further spread of measles in Alberta. The province continues to urge all Albertans to ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date and is implementing targeted awareness campaigns in rural communities to increase immunization rates. With a focus on early childhood immunization, Alberta is taking steps to protect vulnerable populations and prevent the further spread of measles in the province.