Another infant contracts measles in Edmonton Zone

EDMONTON – Another case of measles has been reported in the Edmonton Zone. Alberta Health Services (AHS) says the most recent case involves an un-immunized infant under the age of 12 months.

The baby is the third infant to contract measles in the Edmonton area.

Dr. Marcia Johnson, a medical officer of health with AHS, says the infant contracted the measles disease in another country.

“Unfortunately, the infant was able to spread it to others during the air flight, including a flight from Toronto to Edmonton on April 24.”

The flight, Air Canada 157, landed at Edmonton International Airport at 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 24.

“Therefore, anyone on that flight would have been at risk of being exposed to measles,” Johnson said.

AHS is warning people who were at the following locations that they may have been exposed to the disease:

• Passengers and crew on Lufthansa Flight # LH763 – departing New Delhi April 24th at 1230 hrs arriving in Munich at 0500 hrs.
• Passengers and crew on Lufthansa Flight #LH6790 – departing Munich at 1150 hrs April 24th arriving in Toronto at 1440 hrs.
• Passengers and crew on Air Canada AC157 departing Toronto at 1830 hrs on April 24th and arriving in Edmonton at 2044 hrs.
• Members of the public and staff who were in the Edmonton International Airport on April 24th, between the hours of 2044 hrs and 2315 hrs.
• Members of the public and staff who were in All-Well Medical Clinic, 4217 23 Ave, Edmonton, on April 27th, 2014 between 1000 and 1330 hrs.
• Members of the public and staff who were in Walmart at 1203 Parsons Rd, Edmonton, on the 27th of April, between 1900 and 2200 hrs.
• Members of the public and staff who were in the Medical Clinic at 209-9252 34 Ave, (Dr. Bhambhani’s office) Edmonton, on April 28th, between 1045 and1330 hrs.
• Members of the public and staff who were in Dynalife Lab on April 28th, at Tawa Centre, 3015 66 St, Edmonton, between 1430 and 1730 hrs.
• Members of the public and staff who were at the medical clinic at 209-9252 34 Ave (Dr. Bhambhani’s office) on the 29th of April, between 0945 and 1230 hrs.
• Members of the public and staff who were at Medical Imaging Consultants at Tawa Centre on April 28th, between 1300 and 1530 hrs.

AHS is urging anyone who may have been at the above locations and has not received two doses of measles vaccine to monitor themselves for measles symptoms.

There have now been 23 confirmed cases of measles in Alberta — seven in the Edmonton Zone, seven in the Central Zone and nine in the Calgary Zone.

Earlier this week, AHS declared a measles outbreak, encouraging all un-immunized people to get a measles vaccination.

READ MORE: Alberta declares measles outbreak

Infants, in particular, are at increased risk of the serious effects of measles. As a result, AHS says infants between six and 11 months are now eligible for an additional dose of the vaccine.

Since the outbreak was declared on Tuesday, AHS added extra staff to answer calls to Health Link. But the medical information line has still been very busy.

READ MORE: Edmontonians express frustration following measles outbreak

Measles clinics have been set up in Calgary, but not in Edmonton.

For more information on the Alberta measles outbreak, including immunization clinics and exposure locations, visit Global News’ Alberta measles webpage.

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