weerapat / Depositphotos.com
Three new cases confirmed in Central Alberta; Texas outbreak passes 500 infections with two child deaths
Alberta continues to see a steady rise in measles cases, with three new infections confirmed in Central Alberta over the weekend. The province has now recorded 27 cases, nine of them in the North Zone, and nearly all involving children under 18. The highly contagious virus, declared eradicated in Alberta in 1998, is making a comeback amid growing vaccine hesitancy.
Measles is extremely contagious and can spread through the air, even if an infected person has left the room, according to public information published by Alberta Health Services. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a blotchy rash that usually begins behind the ears and spreads across the body. In severe cases, measles can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, and death.
According to Alberta Health, one to three out of every 1,000 people infected with measles will die, while about one in 10 will develop complications such as lung or ear infections. Children under five, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems face the highest risk.
The province is urging Albertans to ensure their immunizations are up to date, especially ahead of spring travel. Measles-containing vaccines are offered free through Alberta Health Services, and protection is nearly 100 per cent effective after two doses. Most of the cases in Alberta so far have been limited to a small number of households.
The Alberta outbreak mirrors a wider resurgence across North America. In Texas, the hardest-hit U.S. state, over 500 cases have been reported, and two children have died. Health officials on both sides of the border are stressing the importance of immunization in preventing further spread of a disease once thought to be a thing of the past.
Comments