Officials with Alberta Health Services issued an alert Friday over a confirmed case of the measles in a person who flew between Vancouver and Edmonton at the end of February.
AHS said an individual had a confirmed case of measles – and there were two potential exposure locations that the public should be aware of.
The two potential exposures were on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25, 2017. The first was on WestJet Flight WS 186 from Vancouver to Edmonton, and anyone on that flight could have been exposed (it departed from Vancouver at 10:20 p.m. PST).
The second potential exposure was on Saturday at the Edmonton International Airport between 12:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.
Officials said anyone who was in those locations at that time, and who were born after 1970 and haven’t had measles or have not received two doses of the vaccine may be at risk of developing measles.
AHS is contacting individuals who were on the flight directly, anyone who was in the airport that Saturday morning is asked to call Health Link at 811 immediately to be assessed for risk.
Individuals are being asked to monitor themselves for symptoms of measles until March 18.
Symptoms include: a fever of 38.3 degrees Celsius or higher, along with a cough, runny nose and/or red eyes, and a red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, usually beginning behind the ears, and on the face, before spreading down the body, then to arms and legs.
If symptoms develop, individuals are asked to stay home and call Health Link before visiting any health care facility or provider.
AHS said measles is extremely contagious, and is spread easily through the air – there is no treatment, but it can be prevented through immunization.
The vaccine is typically administered for the first time to children at 12-months-old, and their second dose is given between the ages of four and six years old.
