(Dreamstime)

By The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta government reports 600 cases of measles since early March

May 26, 2025 | 5:24 PM

Alberta has seen more than 600 cases of measles since early March, as 19 more cases of the highly contagious disease have been confirmed.

The province says 22 are still transmissible and all but two of the new cases are in southern Alberta, the area that has seen most of the province’s cases.

Alberta Health Services says the slew of cases is likely due to underreporting, prompting officials to issue an exposure advisory until further notice.

All people living, working, attending school or travelling are to be aware of the significant current risk for measles disease, and ensure immunizations are up-to-date.

Government data shows a large majority of Alberta’s total cases have been reported in children, including 188 in those under the age of five.

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As of earlier this month, 44 people had been hospitalized.

Measles symptoms include fever, coughing, runny nose, red eyes and a blotchy, red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.

Sarah Hoffman, Alberta’s New Democrat Shadow Minister for Health, issued the following statement in response:

“The UCP’s incompetent response to the measles outbreak has been a complete failure.

“Alberta’s case count has tripled in May. South of the border, states with a similar population to ours are reporting case counts in the single digits, or no cases at all. The entire south zone of the province is now under an exposure advisory.

“We now have four different health ministers and not one of them is doing anything to get this outbreak under control.

“People are getting sick because the government hasn’t taken vaccines seriously and they haven’t done their job on public health.

“We have a lot of work to do to make sure that everyone is fully immunized. This disease can be deadly. Three Americans have already died.

“The good news is there is an effective vaccine available to all Albertans. Please call 811 to ensure your vaccines are up to date: if they aren’t you can get an MMR booster which could save your life.”

“Measles outbreaks are causing cases to skyrocket in Alberta. This should be an all hands-on deck situation. Where is the interim Chief Medical Officer of Health? Where is the Minister? Why aren’t Albertans hearing from them?” said Chris Gallaway executive director of Friends of Medicare. “It’s clear the previously announced public campaign and steps for increased access to immunization in the central and south zones have not been enough to stop the spread in Alberta. We need to see urgent action.”

“Albertans deserve to know they have a Chief Medical Officer of Health and Public Health Service that are arms-length and rooted in making decisions based on the best science, and that they aren’t being impeded from sharing the best evidence-based information with the public,” added Gallaway.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025.

(With files from rdnewwsNOW)

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