AHS issues health warning after infectious measles patients spend hours in central Alberta hospitals

A measles rash can be seen on a person's hands in this undated file photo. (File)

Alberta Health Services says several people with active measles infections visited health-care centres in central Alberta.

On Thursday, AHS said there were 26 confirmed cases of measles in the central zone, including four new cases. That brought the total active cases in the province to 50.

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Measles is an “extremely contagious” airborne disease that can be contracted by being in a room where an infected person was up to two hours before.

AHS is warning that people with active infections visited businesses and health centres in Two Hills, Vegreville and Red Deer – with one patient spending upwards of 12 hours in an emergency room.

Anyone who was in the following locations at the same time, who was born after 1970 and has had fewer than two doses of measles vaccine, is asked to look out for symptoms:

• April 2, Two Hills Medical Clinic between 12:55 p.m. and 3:40 p.m.
• April 3, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Emergency Department between 12 a.m. and 1:40 p.m.
• April 3, Red Deer Regional Hospital Surge Unit between 11:35 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• April 4, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Diagnostic Imaging between 2:55 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
• April 4, Two Hills Health Centre Emergency Department between 3:20 p.m. and 10:55 p.m.
• April 4, St. Joseph’s General Hospital Emergency Department in Vegreville between 5:35 p.m. and 10:05 p.m.
• April 7, St. Joseph’s General Hospital Emergency Department in Vegreville between 7:55 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.

Earlier this week, AHS reported two exposures in west Edmonton, at the Costco and Chick-fil-A on 186 Street.

Measles symptoms include fever of 38.3 C or higher, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.

Complications of measles can include ear infections, pneumonia, brain inflammation and premature delivery in pregnant people. In rare cases, the infection can be deadly.

AHS said anyone showing symptoms should stay home and call 811 before heading to a health-care facility or pharmacy.

More information on measles vaccines can be found on the AHS website.

The number of measles cases in Alberta more than doubled between March 31 and April 10, prompting health professionals to call for a public health message from the province.

This week, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange has said cases are “very localized” and the situation is not dire enough to warrant an address from the chief medical officer of health.