The province has issued a measles exposure advisory in Claresholm.
Officials reported the exposure at the Claresholm General Hospital Emergency Department between 1:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. on May 6.
Individuals who were at that location between those times, who were born in or after 1970 and has fewer than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine or has never had the measles disease, might be at risk of developing the illness.
Symptoms of measles include:
- A fever of 38.3 degrees Celsius or higher
- A cough, runny nose and/or red eyes
- A rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts. The rash usually begins behind the ears and on the face and spreads down to the body, then to the arms and legs. The rash appears red and blotchy on lighter skin tones and can appear purple or darker than the skin around it for darker skin tones.
If symptoms develop, individuals are asked to stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting a health care facility or provider.
Officials said measles is “extremely contagious” and the virus spreads through the air.
The measles vaccine is offered for free in Alberta through the province’s publicly funded immunization program. Officials said the recommended schedule for immunization is two doses, with the first at one year of age and the second at 18 months.
A dose of vaccine must be given within 72 hours of exposure to prevent measles.
Babies under one year of age, as well as people with weakened immune systems and those who are pregnant, could receive immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to prevent the disease.
Additionally, those 14 and older can check their immunization history using My Health Record. Residents can also get health information by texting ‘Measles’ to 88111.
More information about measles and prevention services is available at the Alberta government website.
