Experts urge immunization as Alberta measles count passes 300

Amir Said · CBC News

· Posted: May 08, 2025 11:15 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

With 16 caller measles cases reported successful Alberta connected Thursday, the province's fig of confirmed cases has surged past the 300 people and presently sits astatine 313.

These cases — 14 successful the southbound portion and 1 each successful the northbound and cardinal zones — are the latest successful a bid of measles outbreaks reported crossed each 5 Alberta wellness zones.

"This is simply a large occupation and it could get retired of power quickly," said Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the Alberta Medical Association, during a sheet treatment connected Thursday.

WATCH | Alberta doctors impulse radical to get vaccinated

The panel, made up of renowned physicians and infectious illness experts, convened to sermon the measles outbreaks happening crossed the province.

The numbers are the highest the state has seen since 1987, erstwhile 690 cases were reported.

"Anyone who hasn't had measles earlier oregon is not afloat immunized is astatine hazard of getting the disease," said Duggan, referring to the airborne illness arsenic "the astir contagious unwellness successful the world."

Vaccination is key

Measles has nary cure but is preventable.

"The measles vaccine is harmless and it's the champion mode to support against it. It's highly effectual astatine preventing corruption and complications and is overmuch safer than getting the disease," said Duggan.

"There is present statement province-wide that we request to drastically summation the fig of Albertans vaccinated against measles," she said.

People calved earlier 1970 are apt immune to measles owed to being exposed anterior to the disease's elimination astir 3 decades agone — though 1 lawsuit has been reported successful a diligent implicit 55 in Alberta this year.

Youth nether the property of 18 are the astir apt to beryllium infected, with 163 cases presently reported for younker ages 5 to 17 and 93 patients nether five.

"One dose of the vaccine gives your kid 85 to 95 per cent extortion successful preventing them getting measles and 2 doses gives astir 100 per cent protection," said Dr. Tehseen Ladha, a pediatrician successful Edmonton.

Immunization is typically not recommended for those nether 12 months old, but those 6 months and up are eligible for 1 dose if they unrecorded oregon are travelling to the central, northbound and southbound zones, wherever the lion's stock of cases (80, 24 and 193 respectively) person been reported. 

"I highly promote families who person not immunized their children to truly prioritize this earlier they get an exposure," said Ladha, noting that betwixt 10 and 30 per cent of children that declaration measles extremity up hospitalized.

The sheet acknowledged that galore families whitethorn hesitate to person their children immunized owed to confusion astir the information of the measles vaccine, immoderate of which whitethorn stem from misinformation and disinformation.

"I privation to reassure those families that the measles vaccine is safe. It has been thoroughly researched. It has been astir for decades and broadside effects proceed to beryllium monitored," said Ladha.

Information connected measles and immunization is disposable connected the Alberta Health Services website.

Measles symptoms tin see a fever, cough, runny nose, reddish eyes and a reddish rash appearing 3 to 7 days aft the commencement of the fever.

Of each 1,000 radical with measles, 1 to 3 volition die, according to the Government of Alberta.