AHS issues measles warning in southern Alberta

Health officials have issued a warning about potential measles exposure in southern Alberta. Alberta Health Services says anyone who was at the Claresholm General Hospital Emergency Department on Wednesday, May 6^th between 1:30 PM and 8:15 PM may have been exposed.

AHS says anyone who attended this location during these times, who was born in or after 1970 and has fewer than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine or has never had measles disease, may be at risk for developing measles.

Symptoms include a fever of 38.3° Celsius or higher; a cough, runny nose and/or red eyes; and a rash that appears 3 to 7 days after fever starts, usually beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and then to the arms and legs. The rash appears red and blotchy on lighter skin colours. On darker skin colours, it can appear purple or darker than the skin around it, or it might be hard to see.

If measles symptoms do develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.