Alberta is facing a significant measles outbreak, with 409 confirmed cases reported, including 14 new cases in just the last 24 hours. The majority of these cases—269—are concentrated in the southern health zone of Alberta, which includes towns like Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Taber. Alarmingly, over 75% of those infected are children, and three individuals are currently hospitalized in intensive care.
Dr. Lenore Saxinger, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta, expressed her concern about the situation, describing it as "appalling." She noted that when many doctors were training in the early 2000s, Canada saw fewer than 10 measles cases a year. Now, the province is experiencing nearly 10 new cases daily.
Alberta is second only to Ontario in the number of confirmed cases, with Ontario reporting 1,622 cases. The outbreak has even prompted a public health alert in the Seattle area of Washington state. Residents there were warned about a visitor from Canada who had a confirmed case of measles and visited multiple locations while contagious.
Health officials in Washington have urged anyone who may have been in contact with this individual to check their vaccination status. Both Canada and the U.S. are at risk of losing their measles-free status due to these recent outbreaks. Canada has not seen endemic measles since 1998, while the U.S. has maintained its status since 2000.
In Texas, more than 700 cases have been reported this year, and experts believe the actual numbers could be much higher. Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine warned that the rise in measles cases could lead to a resurgence of other serious childhood diseases in unvaccinated populations, particularly in rural areas.
To combat the outbreak, Alberta’s government is implementing a new advertising campaign titled "Don’t get measles, get immunized." This campaign includes radio, print, and social media efforts. The Alberta Health Minister’s office reported a significant increase in vaccination rates, with over 37,000 measles vaccines administered between mid-March and late April—nearly 68% more than the same period last year.
However, Dr. Saxinger cautioned that traditional media might not effectively reach those less likely to vaccinate, which could hinder efforts to control the outbreak. She emphasized the urgency of addressing this public health crisis, noting that measles is preventable and that immediate action is necessary to protect communities.
For more information on measles in Alberta, including symptoms and vaccination details, residents can visit the Alberta government’s website.