Alberta’s rise in measles cases seems to be slowing down, but with students returning to school this week, health professionals are warning that another rapid increase could be on the horizon. The province’s outbreaks have caused significant concern, surpassing the total case count for the entire United States back in July.
Alberta continues to report more weekly measles cases than any other province in Canada, as per the Public Health Agency of Canada. Despite this, the number of newly confirmed measles cases each week has been on a downward trend since reaching a peak in July.
Over the recent long weekend, seven additional cases were reported, all in the north zone, bringing the total number of identified cases since the outbreaks began in March to 1,826 as of noon on Wednesday. Dr. Karina Top, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital, mentioned that although there are still cases in the province, the number of new cases is declining, which is a positive development.
One individual is currently hospitalized due to measles, with a total of 152 Albertans hospitalized since the start of the outbreaks, including 15 ICU admissions. No fatalities have been reported this year.
Dr. Sidd Thakore, a pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, noted the decrease in severe cases among children recently, which is a positive trend. However, he remains vigilant as students return to school and spend more time indoors, highlighting the potential for another surge in cases due to the highly contagious nature of the virus.
Infectious diseases typically spread more easily indoors, and measles, being airborne and highly contagious, can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Dr. Top emphasized the rapid transmission within a classroom setting and urged families to ensure their immunizations are up-to-date and keep sick children at home.
Recent public data indicates that measles vaccination rates among young children in 2024 were below the recommended 95% threshold for herd immunity. The province advises that two doses of the measles vaccine provide nearly 100% protection, and the majority of confirmed cases are among individuals who are not immunized.
