As the number of measles cases in Alberta continues to rise, the organization representing its doctors says the government needs to ramp up public messaging and prevention.
In its latest numbers posted Friday, the provincial government reported 137 total cases since March, exceeding the most recent high of 123 cases reported in the province 25 years ago.
Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Shelley Duggan said the numbers suggest that within weeks, that count could skyrocket to more than 1,000.
"As a physician who's been practicing for over 20 years, I’ve never seen measles. I suspect I’m going to," she said.
Duggan said for every one case of measles, you can assume that up to 18 individuals can get infected if exposed.
The disease is highly contagious. Alberta's dedicated measles website notes that if you have it, you can spread it before you show any symptoms, including a rash.
Duggan said the province doesn’t have a high enough vaccination rate to prevent measles from circulating - a rate that is ideally above 95 per cent. She said even in urban center's like Edmonton and Calgary the rate is only at around 70 per cent, and there are pockets of the province that are at 50 per cent or lower.
Former chief medical health officer Dr. Mark Joffe, speaking at the University of Alberta’s department of medicine Friday, said while most recover from measles, some don’t.
"It’s not a mild disease. It's a miserable disease that goes on for a miserable seven to 10 days," he said.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said Alberta needs to offer regular, weekly public briefings, seriously expand public messaging and set up booster clinics in areas with low vaccination rates.
"While the current situation in the province is concerning, the vast majority of cases remain traceable," the statement said.
"We are seeing an increase in immunizations for measles – for example, between the weeks of March 16 and April 13, 27,094 vaccines have been administered, an increase of almost 66 per cent from the previous time period last year."
Nine people with confirmed cases have currently been hospitalized in Alberta.
Albertans uncertain about their own or their child's immunization history can text "vaccine record" to 88111, call Health Link at 811, or contact their local public health office.
You can also click here to learn more about Measles from Alberta Health Services.
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