The latest hotspot for measles in Alberta is a hospital in Grande Prairie.Alberta Health Services put out a warning that the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital recently had exposures on May 1 and May 6.."Measles is extremely contagious. Measles is a virus that spreads easily through the air when someone who has measles coughs, sneezes, yells, sings, and breathes," says the AHS website."You can get measles just by passing through a room or location where a person who is infected was up to 2 hours before. The person who is infected does not still need to be there to put you at risk of disease. The best protection against measles is to ensure you are up to date with your immunizations.".AHS says anyone who was in these locations on those dates and times and has fewer than two doses of the measles vaccine may be at risk of infection and should monitor for symptoms:Fever of 38.3° C or higher; andCough, runny nose and/or red eyes; andA 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.Persons who are pregnant, less than 5 years of age or have weakened immune systems are at greatest risk.If symptoms do develop, individuals should stay at home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any healthcare provider.
