Dr. Mark Joffe, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health
Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health advised people Friday to ensure their measles immunizations are up to date.
Dr. Mark Joffe urged people to protect themselves and people around them through immunization.
“In light of the measles outbreaks across the province, I want to remind all Albertans that these outbreaks are highly preventable,” Joffe said in a news release.
As of April 1, there were 58 confirmed cases of measles in Alberta.
The number of cases is rising in southern and central Alberta.
Joffe said 48 of the confirmed cases are likely past the period in which they are communicable.
“However, it’s important to note that this does not necessarily reflect risk in the community as there may be people with undiagnosed measles, including people coming into the province from other places where it’s circulating, nor does it reflect the number of persons who have been exposed to measles,” Joffe said.
Immunization with measles-containing vaccine is the single most important public health intervention to prevent measles.
“Measles is more serious than other common childhood illnesses,” Joffe said. “It can cause pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. Early symptoms of measles include a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a blotchy red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.”
If you are showing symptoms of measles, stay home and call 811 for further direction.
Joffe said the measles vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and complications and is readily available to eligible Albertans.
To see if you are eligible to get the vaccine, contact the Fort Macleod Health Centre or your physician.
“It’s important that Albertans do their part to prevent the spread of measles,” Joffe said
For more information visit alberta.ca/measles.
