Dr. Marcia Johnson, medical officer of health in the Edmonton Zone for Alberta Health Services, declared a measles outbreak Tuesday.
Photo Credit: Gareth Hampshire/CBC

Public health officials warn of measles outbreaks

The province of Alberta has officially declared measles outbreaks in three areas and is asking anyone who has been exposed to stay indoors. Although there have been only 22 cases in the province so far, the long incubation period has public health officials worried that many more cases will soon emerge.

Outbreaks have been declared in Calgary, Edmonton and central Alberta, and cases have been reported in several Canadian provinces.

Highly contagious, sometimes deadly

Measles causes fever, a runny nose, cough and an itchy rash. It is highly contagious and complications can lead to death.

Although children are routinely vaccinated against measles in Canada, there are religious groups and parents who mistakenly believe vaccines are dangerous and refuse to immunize their children. The province of Ontario does not allow children into school unless they have proof of they have been vaccinated against several diseases.

Vaccination age lowered

Alberta is lowering the age that vaccines are administered to children in order to protect the very young. They are also urging all Albertans born in or after 1970 to make sure they have received both doses of the measles vaccine. Most people born before then have actually had the disease or have been exposed to it and have developed an immunity.

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