Experts urge Albertans to check measles vaccine status after confirmed Edmonton case
A confirmed case of measles in Edmonton has prompted another plea from health officials for people to make sure vaccinations are up to date.
"Because measles is so very transmissible, you need very high levels of protection to reduce the risk of breakthrough infection and going forward transmission in the community," infectious disease specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday.
"It's not harmful to get a dose if you're not sure [if you've been vaccinated.]"
Measles will often start with cold-like symptoms -- a running nose, itchy eyes and fever before the tell-tale rash appears.
The initial symptoms are when you're most contagious.
Officials say while the majority of people who get measles will be okay -- there's a risk for brain injury and even death.
There's also concern over the impact a measles outbreak could have on an already strained health care system.
"It will impact access to surgeries for every Albertan. It'll impact access to hospital care, cancer care you name all the components of the health care system that we're already having some difficulty and struggling with, it’ll make it infinitely worse," Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Paul Parks said.
The most recent data from Alberta Health from 2022 shows an 82 per cent coverage rate against measles.
Saxinger says that's not enough.
"Eighty per cent sounds OK. But for this particular disease, it is simply not enough. So I think that we would have real concerns that there could be pockets of under-vaccinated, under-protected people where this could spread."
A spokesperson says the 2023 data won't be made public until sometime this summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Macklem tries to stay out of the fray as MPs do their best to use him to score points
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem navigates a political minefield every time he testifies before the House of Commons finance committee.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.