Chief medical officer's contract ends as measles concerns grow in Alberta

Dr. Mark Joffe is no longer Alberta's chief medical officer of health, leaving the province without a top doctor as it battles growing measles outbreaks.

The Alberta government confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Joffe's contract ended on April 14 — after being extended for an additional two weeks — and that the search for a permanent replacement has begun.

"Since November 2022, Dr. Mark Joffe has served Albertans as the interim chief medical officer of health with dedication and professionalism, providing public health expertise during a time of significant challenges and transitions," a statement from the health minister's office said.

The government said it expects to announce a new interim CMOH "imminently," and in the meantime it will rely on the advice of public health experts and local zone medical officers of health.

Joffe's departure comes as concerns about surging measles cases grow, with outbreaks documented in all five health zones.

"Alberta's government remains vigilant in its approach to measles, ensuring information and resources are available for all Albertans to understand how to best protect themselves," the health minister's office said.

"We want to reassure Albertans that public health continues to be a top priority during this transition. Alberta's government will continue to work closely with health partners to ensure continuity in public health leadership and responses."

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The government has been criticized by some health experts who say its messaging around measles has not been strong enough, and it was facing increasing calls for Joffe to appear publicly and address the situation.

Joffe had been largely absent from the public eye since the outbreaks began. 

"The province is now short one chief medical officer of health. Well, some would argue we've been short a chief medical officer of health ever since Premier Smith took office," said NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi.

"We're in the middle of a measles outbreak. This is a serious, serious issue."

Publicly available provincial data shows that, as of April 5, eight people have been hospitalized since the outbreaks began in early March.

Nenshi questions why, with Joffe's contract set to end, plans were not ready to replace him at such a critical time.

"The fact that the province has not even named an interim or an acting chief medical officer of health means either they weren't expecting Dr. Joffe to step away or that they just don't know what they're doing. Spoiler alert: it's both."

When asked during Tuesday's question period about the government's response and the absence of Joffe during the growing oubreaks, Premier Danielle Smith said there are eight active cases in the province.

"We are doing a public campaign, and the minister is looking at expanding that to radio ads in the communities that are still impacted," Smith said.

"What we have seen is many of the cases are related to travel, and some of the numbers that we're seeing are also related to particular communities. And so [we're] taking a targeted approach to ensure that people know what the risks are so that they can make sure that if they are contagious that they stay away and that they do have an option to be able to get vaccinated."

While Joffe issued written statements on two occasions during the measles surge — including last week when he warned of the dangers of measles and urged Albertans to ensure they and their kids are fully immunized — he had not appeared publicly nor had he conducted any media interviews on the topic.

CBC News was told on multiple occasions that Joffe was unavailable for interviews on the measles outbreaks.

In response to questions about why Joffe hadn't appeared publicly, a spokesperson for Alberta Health said, on April 4, that their response was "appropriate to the current circumstances."

"Should the situation escalate, and a provincewide outbreak is declared, we anticipate Dr. Joffe speaking more broadly to Albertans," the spokesperson said.

Upon being pressed further on the matter last week, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange told reporters he was working behind the scenes with health officials in impacted communities to rein in the outbreaks.

"When Dr. Joffe feels that's important for him to do, he will absolutely go out and do it," she said at the time.

However, when asked whether Joffe would be allowed to speak publicly if he wanted to, she did not answer.

On Monday, Alberta reported 16 more measles cases, and on Tuesday, another three cases were confirmed, bringing the total, since the outbreaks began, to 77.

Joffe was appointed to the CMOH role in November 2022 after Dr. Deena Hinshaw's abrupt departure.