AHS warns of measles exposure after Calgary case confirmed

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has confirmed a single case of measles in Calgary, and it may have exposed others over the past few days.

AHS says anyone who may have been in the following areas from March 8-12 may have been exposed to measles.

• Airdrie Superstore from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. on March 8.
• New Horizon Mall – Sky Castle Family Entertainment Centre and cafeteria in Balzac from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. on March 9.
• Airdrie Urgent Care from 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. on March 11.
• One Health Associate Medical Clinic in Airdrie from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on March 12.

Anyone who may have been to these areas and were born in or after 1970 and has had less than two documented measles vaccines is at risk for measles. AHS encourages those people to review their immunization records and monitor for symptoms.

AHS says, “Measles is an extremely contagious disease and is spread easily through the air.”

Symptoms include:

• Fever of 38.3 C or higher.
• Cough, runny nose, and/or red eyes.
• A red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, which begins behind the ears and on the face and spreads down the body to the arms and legs.

If anyone feels any of these symptoms developing, AHS says to stay home and call Health Link at 811 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.

While people born in or since 1970 who have received fewer than two doses of measles-containing vaccine are susceptible to infection, those who have received fewer than two doses of measles-containing vaccine and are pregnant, under one year of age, are adults and/or have a weakened immune system are at most risk of complications from measles.

Regardless, AHS says they should contact Health Link at 811 “promptly if exposed to measles” as they may be eligible for vaccine or immune globulin to reduce their measles risk.

More information, including on registering for a vaccine, can be found online here.