Person with active measles infection visited Meadowlark Mall in Edmonton: AHS

Alberta says it is not declaring a public health emergency over measles as cases continue to rise in the province.

A public health alert has been issued over three measles exposures in Edmonton.

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Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued the alert on Thursday after confirming a person with an active measles infection visited Meadowlark Mall earlier this month.

The person visited the following businesses on the following days while actively sick:

• Shopper’s Drug Mart between 9 a.m and 7 p.m. on July 1 and 2; and
• Walmart Supercentre on July 2 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Anyone who was at these locations during the specified times, who was born in or after 1970 and has fewer than two documented doses of the measles vaccine may be at risk of developing measles.

Symptoms of measles include a 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, inflammation of the brain, premature delivery, and, rarely, death.

The exposure alert is one of multiple issued for the Edmonton area in July.

• AHS warns of measles exposure at Edmonton Grey Nuns hospital
• Confirmed case of measles prompts alert to potential exposure in Edmonton
• Person with confirmed case of measles was at the Stollery, U of A Hospital

AHS says anyone with measles symptoms should stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any health care facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.

On Thursday, Alberta added 21 new cases of measles, 19 in the north zone and two in the south. Fifteen total cases in Alberta were known to be active and communicable and two people were in hospital.

Measles-containing vaccines are highly effective at preventing infection and complications from the disease and Albertans are encouraged to check their immunization records to ensure they have received the recommended doses.

More information on measles and vaccine eligibility can be found on the AHS website.