Confirmed cases of measles in Alberta have surpassed 1,300, and an infectious disease specialist warns the spread is likely to continue through the summer into the fall.As of Tuesday, there are 1,323 confirmed cases of the disease, up nine cases since Monday and 30 cases over the weekend. Currently, there are three cases in hospital, one of which is in ICU. No deaths were reported in Alberta.“Alberta will likely see ongoing infections over the summer. Higher rates of measles will likely coincide with the return to schools in the fall,” Dr. Dan Gregson, an infectious disease physician and professor at the University of Calgary, told the Western Standard.According to Gregson, mass immunization programs would be needed to curtail this outbreak due to the large number of cases and the disease’s transmissibility.“This is doable in a few months but would require resources and public participation,” Gregson said..Alberta now has more measles cases than the entire US.The Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services told the Western Standard in a statement Tuesday that immunization has been the strongest defence against measles, urging all Albertans to check their vaccination records.Out of the total number of confirmed measles cases in Alberta, 14 are considered transmissible as of Tuesday, according to the statement."We are actively promoting vaccination — in fact, we’ve expanded eligibility based on advice from the chief medical officer of health. We're supporting this campaign with all appropriate resources and are seeing a significant increase in Albertans choosing to be vaccinated," reads the statement."Alberta’s government takes the current measles situation seriously and continues to closely monitor the outbreak. Public health officials are actively working to limit further spread and support affected individuals and families. The situation is being managed effectively using well-established public health tools. Expanded vaccination clinics, targeted outreach, and clear public health guidance are already in place and showing positive results."Alberta Health Services (AHS) has also expanded measles clinics to improve access to immunization."This includes extended hours and additional clinic locations based on local risk and immunization needs across the province—particularly in the South Zone, where immunization rates have been lower," reads the statement..Canada's inflation rate rose to 1.9% in June as prices of cars, clothes rise."The early measles vaccine dose for six–11-month-olds is currently offered in the Central, North, and South Zones as an outbreak response, where measles activity and risk are higher. In Calgary and Edmonton, the risk remains relatively low due to stronger immunization coverage and fewer under-immunized pockets. Families travelling to those areas can have their 6- to 11-month-old immunized with an early dose.""Based on past experience, large immunization clinics have had low attendance in areas where measles is currently circulating. As such, adding additional clinics in these locations is not expected to significantly improve uptake, as sufficient access already exists through local community clinics."Residents who are vaccinated should not be concerned about Alberta’s large numbers of measles, according to Gregson. However, those who are not should consider immunization to avoid getting infected, or the need for quarantine over the summer or in the upcoming school year.“Measles is an extremely contagious disease," reads AHS’s website.“It spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles is sometimes called rubeola or red measles.”People with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and children less than five years of age are at highest risk of severe complications from the disease. In Alberta, children receive their first dose of the measles vaccine at 12 months of age, and their second at 18 months of age. Those who receive two doses of vaccine are considered protected..EXCLUSIVE: UCP members propose party vote on Alberta independence.Adults born in 1970 or later with a documented history of two lifetime doses of vaccine spaced at least four weeks apart are considered protected. Residents born before 1970 are generally considered immune to the disease.The cases in Alberta have surpassed the total number recorded so far this year in the United States. As of July 8, there were 1,288 cases of measles across 39 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. There have been three deaths and 162 cases that required hospitalization in the US, according to the CDC’s website.According to the Government of Canada’s website, a total of 3,822 measles cases — 3,517 confirmed and 305 probable — have been reported by 10 jurisdictions, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, as of July 5.In Ontario, there have been 2,241 cases — 1,930 confirmed and 311 probable — as of July 5.In Canada, there has been one death reported by Ontario in a congenital case of measles, who was born pre-term and had other underlying health conditions, according to the government’s website.Measles has been eliminated in Canada since 1998, but it was never eradicated, which means it can still be imported from other regions where it’s circulating.
