Public health officials are warning residents in the greater Edmonton area to be on the lookout after a single case of measles was confirmed last week in south Edmonton.
A woman who recently travelled to India contracted the disease and developed symptoms soon after her return to Edmonton, said Dr. Christopher Sikora, Alberta Health Services' medical officer of health for the Edmonton zone.
"Measles is a highly communicable disease; it's very effectively transmitted to individuals who are susceptible, so (those) who are unimmunized or who haven't previously had measles," he said. "Because it's transmitted so easily, we take this very seriously."
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be transmitted through the air and will leave individuals with a fever, cough, runny nose, itchy eyes and rash. The disease is contagious just before an individual exhibits a fever to several days after the rash sets in, he said.
No additional cases have been reported to date, but Sikora said this could change in the coming days.
"Time will tell if there are secondary cases identified in this particular incident and we'll continue to work with the public, our physicians and the media if there are secondary cases that are identified," he said.
It is common practice in Alberta for individuals to be immunized against measles, mumps and rubella at 12 months of age and again at five years old as part of the routine Childhood Immunization Program. Generally, if someone is immunized or is born before 1970, they are protected against contracting the disease, he said.
Roughly 90 per cent of children in Alberta are immunized, although Sikora said he would like to see this increase to 100 per cent because the more people are immunized, the less chance of disease transmission.
He said since diseases like measles are so uncommon in North America, many people do not feel they need to be immunized.
"These illnesses are simply a plane flight away, as is demonstrated by this case," he said. "We can import measles in a matter of hours from endemic areas around the world. We have millions of people travelling on an international basis and the best way to protect yourself and your children is to get immunized."
Alberta Health Services public health officials have identified a list of places where the infected individual may have transmitted the disease. Anyone who was potentially exposed is asked to monitor for symptoms until March 26 and call Health Link at 1-866-408-5465 if they suspect they have measles.
Sikora said he recommends calling Health Link first as opposed to attending an emergency room, as this could further spread the disease.
Individuals who visited the following locations during the specified times may have been exposed to the disease:
• All-Well Primary Care Centre (4217 23 Ave.) on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Millwoods ARP Drugs Pharmacy (4213 23 Ave.) on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Dr. Rahemtulla & Associates Dental Clinic (4217 23 Ave.) on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Millbourne Road Medical Clinic (131 Millbourne Road East) on March 5 from 1:30 to 8:45 p.m.
• Dynalife Lab in Millbourne Shopping Centre (38 Ave. and Millwoods Road) on March 6 from 1:30 to 7 p.m.
