Measles Outbreak in Alberta Surpasses 1,000 Cases, Experts Warn
Alberta is battling a severe measles outbreak, with cases now exceeding 1,000. Infectious disease specialists are expressing grave concerns about the virus’s containment, citing high transmission rates and the potential for serious complications.
Grim Milestone Reached
The province logged an additional 24 measles cases on Friday. These include 14 in the north zone, nine in the south, and one in Edmonton. This surge brings the total number of confirmed cases since March to 1,020.
“It is a very grim milestone,” stated Dr. Karina Top, a pediatric infectious disease physician at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. The hospital is currently treating children with measles. Dr. Top is worried about hospitalizations and deaths, given the estimated mortality rate of one to two per thousand cases.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious health issues, including pneumonia, brain inflammation, and premature delivery. Sadly, a premature baby who contracted measles recently died in Ontario. Another young child also died from measles in the same province last year.
Doctors also caution about severe long-term effects, such as immune system problems and a rare, degenerative neurological condition that can appear years after the initial infection. This condition is almost always fatal.
Outbreak “Out of Control”
In the last month, Alberta’s case count has more than doubled. On May 20, the confirmed total was 486. Dr. Top said, “This is out of control.”
The most affected areas are the south, central, and north zones, with low vaccination rates among young children. Health officials caution that the actual spread of the virus may be even wider than the reported numbers.
The Alberta government’s measles webpage states, “Due to the number of people in these areas who may not be immune to measles, it’s likely that some cases are going undetected or unreported.” Dr. Top added, “I think we really need to be doing everything we can to engage with those communities that are affected and community leaders to see how best we can work with them to try to get people vaccinated to help contain this infection.”
Dr. Dan Gregson, an infectious disease physician from the University of Calgary, also voiced concern about the rising number of measles cases in Alberta. He said, “This transmission is just out of the box. It’s impossible to contain at the present time.” He urges parents who have not immunized their children to reconsider, emphasizing the importance of vaccination to prevent complications.
The majority of Alberta’s measles cases are among those who are not vaccinated. Recent data indicates that 85 Albertans have been hospitalized due to the outbreaks this year. Also, 14 of these patients have required intensive care. Dr. Gregson explained that most of these hospitalizations are due to pneumonia and brain inflammation.
At the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, where the sickest patients from northern Alberta are being treated, Dr. Top stated that the outbreaks are taking a toll. “It is distressing as a pediatrician to see children that are sick from a disease that is completely vaccine preventable.”
According to provincial data, as of Friday, there was one Albertan in the ICU due to measles, and no deaths have been reported.