Measles ‘out of control,’ experts warn, as Alberta case counts surpass 1,000
Alberta’s measles outbreaks have reached a concerning milestone, surpassing 1,000 confirmed cases. Infectious disease specialists are sounding the alarm, stating that the virus is now “impossible to contain” due to the high level of transmission.
On Friday, the province reported an additional 24 cases, with 14 in the north zone, nine in the south, and one in the Edmonton zone. This brings the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreaks began in March to 1,020.
Dr. Karina Top, a pediatric infectious disease physician at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, expressed grave concern over the situation. She warned that the increasing number of cases could lead to more hospitalizations and potentially deaths, as the measles virus has a death rate of about one to two per thousand cases.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can result in severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, seizures, deafness, and brain damage. Tragically, a premature baby born with measles recently passed away in Ontario, highlighting the dangers of the virus.
The outbreak in Alberta has escalated rapidly, with the case count more than doubling in the last month. Dr. Top described the situation as “out of control,” particularly in the south, central, and north zones where vaccination rates among young children are low.
Health officials are concerned that the virus may be more widespread in these areas than reported, as some cases could be going undetected or unreported. Efforts are being made to engage with affected communities and encourage vaccination to contain the infection.
Dr. Dan Gregson, an infectious disease physician at the University of Calgary, emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing measles. He urged parents who have chosen not to immunize their children to reconsider, as the risk of contracting measles in Alberta is currently high.
The majority of measles cases in Alberta are among the unvaccinated population. Hospitalizations have been reported, with some patients requiring intensive care due to complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation.
In Edmonton, where the Stollery Children’s Hospital is treating the sickest patients from northern Alberta, Dr. Top expressed distress over seeing children suffer from a preventable disease. While there is currently one Albertan in ICU due to measles, no deaths have been reported as of Friday.
The situation in Alberta underscores the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of infectious diseases like measles. Public health efforts are ongoing to contain the outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations from the potentially devastating effects of the virus.
