Alberta sees measles upswing with dozens of cases reported over the weekend

Alberta is facing another sharp rise in measles infections, with dozens of new cases reported in recent days.

There were 36 new infections reported over the weekend, pushing the provincial total to more than 150 so far this year.

Alberta Health says most of the new infections were detected in the South Zone, though cases were also confirmed in Edmonton, Calgary, and the North Zone. The province continues to grapple with one of the largest measles outbreaks in Canada, second only to Manitoba.

Pediatric infectious disease physician Dr. Karina Top says the overwhelming majority of infections are occurring in people who have not been immunized.

“Over 90 per cent of the cases reported in 2026 have been unvaccinated,” she says. “We’re seeing a lot of cases in children who are old enough to be vaccinated but are not vaccinated.”

Emergency physician Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti says he frequently speaks with parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. When he cannot change their minds, he warns them about the risks.

“I say bring your child in right away, we’ll try and save them, but your child could die,” he says. “When you have that kind of brutality in conversation, they suddenly go, ‘Do you mean this really is preventable?’”

Health officials say Alberta and Manitoba account for the vast majority of measles cases in Canada this year. Manitoba is currently reporting 269 infections, the largest outbreak in the country.

Francescutti says the pattern is consistent across provinces.

“We know that rural southern Alberta, certain northern communities, communities with strong vaccine skepticism, and some religious or cultural groups with hesitancy make up a larger proportion of outbreaks,” he says. “What’s happening in Manitoba is mirroring what’s happening in Alberta.”

The Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services says that while case numbers have risen, most new infections are occurring within small groups and families rather than widespread community transmission. Public health teams continue to issue exposure advisories and expand outreach.

The province says more than 191,000 doses of measles vaccine have been administered in Alberta over the past year, and clinic hours have been extended as part of the “Don’t Get Measles, Get Immunized” campaign.

Still, Dr. Top warns that vaccination rates remain too low to stop the virus from spreading.

“We know our vaccination rates are well below what we would need to prevent further spread once measles gets into the community,” she says.

Francescutti argues that it’s up to the government to make immunization easier and more accessible.

“You have to develop really good, robust programs that make it easy to get immunized,” he says. “Remove all barriers, make sure there is no cost, and make sure there are reminders.”

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation, premature delivery during pregnancy, and death.

Neighbouring provinces continue to report far fewer cases: Saskatchewan has recorded five this year, and British Columbia has reported 18.