AHS issues public alert for potential measles exposure in Edmonton region

Alberta Health Services is warning the public that some people in the Edmonton region may have been exposed to measles in late July. 

In a news release on Thursday, AHS stated that it has been notified of a person with confirmed measles who visited two locations in Nisku and one in south Edmonton while infectious.

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that spreads easily through the air.

It said that the contagious person was at Century Mile Racetrack, near the Edmonton International Airport, on July 26 between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.

AHS said the same person also visited the Nisku Costco, located just east of the airport, between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. the following day, on July 27.

The individual then travelled to an IHOP located at 3921 Calgary Trail in south Edmonton, with possible exposure times between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at this location, according to AHS.

Anyone who was in these locations during the specified times may have been exposed to the virus, and AHS indicated that more locations may be released if necessary.

Anyone born in or after 1970 who has received fewer than two documented doses of the measles vaccine and may have attended these locations at the specified times is at risk of possibly developing measles.

Symptoms of measles include:

• Fever of 38.3 C or higher; and
• Cough, runny nose and/or red eyes; and
• A rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, usually beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and then to the arms and legs.
• The rash appears red and blotchy on lighter skin colours. On darker skin colours, it can appear purple or darker than the skin around it, or it might be hard to see.

The release said that if an individual believes they have been exposed and have not received the measles vaccine, they may be able to receive immunization to reduce the risk of infection. It said a dose of the measles vaccine needs to be given within 72 hours of exposure to prevent measles.

In Alberta, the measles vaccine is offered free of charge to eligible populations through Alberta's publicly funded immunization program.

It said that babies under the age of one, people with severely weakened immune systems, and those who are pregnant may be able to receive antibodies within six days of exposure to prevent disease.

If symptoms of measles do develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call the AHS measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any health-care facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.

As of Tuesday, AHS said there have been 23 total confirmed measles cases so far in AHS's Edmonton zone. 

Throughout the province, there have been 1,694 total confirmed cases of measles, with cases primarily concentrated in the north and south AHS health zones. There are currently eight cases in the province that are known to be still communicable.