Measles cases continue to rise in Alberta, with exposures now having been confirmed in Okotoks.
On Friday evening (May 30), those who attended the Foothills Composite High School convocation and grad banquet were notified that they were exposed to measles, as one or more individuals with a confirmed case were in attendance while infectious.
The email was sent from the school's administration, stating that they were instructed to send the information on Alberta Health Services' (AHS) behalf.
According to AHS, the potential exposure dates and locations are:
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May 23: Foothills Composite High School Convocation at Viking Rentals Centre 204 Community Way, Okotoks, AB
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May 24: Foothills Composite High School Graduation Banquet at BMO Centre 1912 Flores Ladue Parade SE, Calgary, AB
The Government of Alberta's website lists 679 cases of measles across the province, with 651 of them being past the period of communicability.
Of those, 13 are listed in the Calgary Zone, which includes Okotoks.
The Okotoks exposure is not listed on the AHS website, as it's not considered a public exposure, though a spokesperson from AHS confirmed that the notification is legitimate.
Screenshots of the email were shared on the CMcalgary Facebook page.
AHS warns that measles is highly contagious and spreads easily through the air.
Anyone who was exposed to a case is advised to watch for symptoms, which include a fever of 38.3° C or higher, coughing, runny nose and/or red eyes, and a rash that develops three to seven days after the fever starts.
If you do develop symptoms, stay home and contact the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting a healthcare provider.
More information on measles is available on the AHS website.