Alberta now has more confirmed measles cases than the entire U.S. has seen this year.
The province has been tackling outbreaks since March, and as of this month, the total case count has gone up to over 1,300.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has reported 1,288 confirmed cases this year.
Dr. Wong, who heads the pediatrics section of the Alberta Medical Association, believes the province could have kept the numbers down if “[they] took it more seriously sooner.”
Between Friday and Monday afternoon, thirty new measles cases were reported in Alberta.
What’s more concerning is that health officials and experts believe the actual number of cases is higher than reported. An exposure advisory is currently in effect for the entire southern region of the province, as well as parts of the north.
According to the province’s measles website, cases are likely going undetected and unreported.
As of July 5, 102 people have been hospitalized after being infected, 15 of whom were admitted to the ICU.
The most recent statistics show that nearly 60 percent of the new cases were reported during the final week of June.
The Rate of Transmission
As of July, 774 measles cases have been reported in the south zone, 385 in the north zone, and 107 in the central zone. 35 and 13 confirmed cases were reported in Calgary and Edmonton respectively.
Craig Jenne, a professor of infectious diseases, immunology, and microbiology at the University of Calgary, is concerned about how quickly the virus appears to be spreading throughout the province.
He also noted that the outbreaks are spreading much faster compared to Ontario, which saw their first cases back in October.
Immunization Clinics
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can result in serious complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and even death.
Small children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk.
Dr. Lynora Saginer, an infectious disease specialist, is now urging the provincial government to set up vaccination campaigns and clinics in an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease further.
She also believes that school-aged children should receive the measles vaccine before returning to school in the fall.
She and other physicians also believe the province should give an early dose of the measles vaccine to children as young as six months.
In response, the Alberta government wrote in an online statement that targeted outreach and expanded vaccination clinics are “already in place.”
According to the spokesperson, hours and locations of measles clinics have also been increased in areas of active outbreaks.
