As summer nears, Alberta is witnessing a surge in measles cases, raising concerns among experts about the potential for further spread. Over the weekend, 31 new cases were reported, bringing the total count to 809 by midday Monday. Currently, five individuals are hospitalized due to the virus, with two in intensive care.
The outbreaks, which originated in March, have affected all zones in Alberta, with the south, central, and north zones experiencing the highest numbers of cases. Caroline Colijn, a professor and Canada Research Chair of Mathematics for Evolution, Infection, and Public Health at Simon Fraser University, noted that the situation shows no signs of slowing down, projecting that measles cases in Alberta will continue to rise in the coming months.
Dr. Sam Wong, president of the Alberta Medical Association’s pediatrics section, expressed concerns about the escalating numbers, predicting that Alberta may surpass 1,000 cases, exceeding the total in the United States, which reported 1,168 cases as of June 6. Wong criticized the government for what he perceived as a failure to act promptly.
With summer travel approaching, experts are wary of potential spikes in transmission. Craig Jenne, a professor at the University of Calgary, emphasized the risk posed by summer activities like travel and public events, such as the upcoming Calgary Stampede. They warned that a single measles case in an area with low vaccination rates could lead to widespread transmission, likening it to a spark in a dry forest.
The south zone accounts for the majority of Alberta’s cases, prompting health officials to issue an exposure advisory due to the widespread transmission. Dr. Paul Parks, working at the Medicine Hat emergency room, highlighted the contagious nature of measles and anticipated further outbreaks as mass gatherings and events increase.
Measles, which can linger in the air for hours, poses a significant threat to unimmunized individuals, with over 90% of exposed non-immune persons likely to contract the virus. The majority of cases in Alberta are among unvaccinated individuals, leading to severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, and even death. Vulnerable populations include children under five, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, with 64 hospitalizations and ten intensive care cases reported in Alberta as of May 31. The province emphasizes the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of measles.