AHS expands measles advisory to entire south zone due to 'widespread' exposure risk
408 confirmed cases in south zone since outbreak began
Alberta Health Services (AHS) is warning anyone living, working or travelling in the south zone to be aware of the "significant current risk" for measles exposure.
The health authority issued a standing measles exposure advisory on Friday afternoon. It applies to all communities in the zone, which stretches from Crowsnest Pass in the west to Medicine Hat in the east, and includes Lethbridge.
AHS said the zone-wide notice replaces site-specific advisories that the health authority said "no longer accurately capture the scope of potential risk."
Anyone in the south zone born in or after 1970 and has fewer than two documented doses of measles vaccine is at risk of developing the disease, the health authority said.
As of Friday at noon, a total of 560 measles cases have been confirmed in Alberta since March.
The south zone has by far the highest case count, with 408 confirmed cases since the outbreak began, including 19 new cases.
The central health zone has had 93 cases, while the Calgary zone has had 12 cases to date.
Most of Alberta's cases have been among the unimmunized, provincial data shows.
It's possible more cases are going undetected or unreported, according to the province.
Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3 C or higher, a cough, a runny rose or red eyes, and a rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.
Complications of the disease can include ear infections, pneumonia, brain inflammation and premature delivery.
The Alberta government's measles website states that between one and three in every 1,000 people infected with measles will die.
AHS is urging anyone with symptoms of measles to stay home and call the province's measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434.
Albertans who don't know their immunization history or want to book a health care appointment can do so by calling the hotline.
People who think they could have been exposed may be able to receive a vaccine to reduce the risk of infection, AHS said in the health advisory.
With files from Jennifer Lee