Possible measles exposure at Calgary International Airport: AHS

The province has confirmed a case of measles in Calgary involving someone who was at the city’s airport this week.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) says the person took a flight from the Calgary International Airport to the Charlottetown Airport on Wednesday.

The health agency is warning that anyone who was in the following locations during specified times may have been exposed to measles:

• Calgary International Airport – Domestic Arrivals Gate A17 (8:10 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
• Calgary International Airport – Domestic Departures Gate C55 and WestJet flight 630 (8:50 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Additional locations could be released if necessary, says AHS.

AHS says anyone who attended the locations at the specified times, was born in or after 1970, and has less than two doses of the measles vaccine, could be at risk. Anyone at risk should monitor for symptoms.

Earlier this month, Alberta surpassed the most confirmed measles cases in nearly 40 years in this latest outbreak.

The province has seen 1,100 cases since the beginning of March as of Thursday, 20 of which are considered active. The majority of cases, over 700, have been in the province’s South Region — with 22 in the Calgary zone.

What are Measles symptoms?

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

Symptoms of measles include:

• Fever of 38.3° C or higher; and
• Cough, runny nose and/or red eyes; and
• A rash that appears 3 to 7 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.

Complications of measles can include ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, premature delivery, and rarely death. Persons who are pregnant, less than 5 years of age, or have weakened immune systems are at greatest risk.

If symptoms of measles develop, individuals should stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.

AHS says measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and complications. In Alberta, measles vaccine is offered, free of charge, through Alberta’s publicly funded immunization program. The recommended schedule for measles vaccination is two doses, the first at one year of age and the second at 18 months.