Alberta Health Services has issued a potential measles exposure alert for individuals who visited the emergency departments at Foothills Medical Centre or Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary last week. The warning, released on Monday evening, identifies specific time frames during which exposure may have occurred.
Exposure Locations and Times
According to the alert, those who were at the Foothills Medical Centre emergency department on Thursday, May 21, between 2:29 a.m. and 5:37 a.m., may have been exposed to measles. Additionally, visitors to the Alberta Children’s Hospital emergency department on the same day between 3:43 a.m. and 12:34 p.m., as well as on Friday, May 22, between 5:32 p.m. and 6:25 p.m., could also have been exposed.
Who Is at Risk
Individuals born in or after 1970 who have received fewer than two documented doses of the measles-containing vaccine, or who have never had measles, are considered at risk if they were present during the specified times. Those who fall into this category should be vigilant for symptoms.
Symptoms to Watch For
Measles symptoms include a cough, runny nose, or red eyes, a fever of 38.3°C (101°F) or higher, and a rash that typically appears three to seven days after the fever begins. The rash usually starts behind the ears and on the face before spreading to the rest of the body. On lighter skin, the rash appears red and blotchy; on darker skin, it may be purple or darker than the surrounding skin and can be harder to detect.
Actions for Those Exposed
Anyone who develops symptoms is advised to stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any health-care provider. This precaution helps prevent further spread of the disease. Alberta Health Services continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
