CALGARY – Alberta Health Services says anyone at Western Canada High School between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 may have been exposed to a confirmed case of measles.
Officials confirm a student infected the disease was on a flight from the Philippines to Vancouver– the same one as an infant who contracted the virus earlier this month.
Measles is an illness caused by a virus that is spread easily through the air. It’s very contagious, and anyone who has not had the disease in the past or has not been vaccinated is in danger of becoming infected. Typically, the disease will develop about 10 days after exposed, and tends to be most severe in infants and adults than in children.
AHS says anyone who may have been at the school during those times and develops symptoms before January 31st should avoid contact with other people and contact a doctor.
Symptoms of Measles:
Fever of 38.3° C or higher, cough, runny nose and/or red eyes, and a red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and then to the arms and legs.
How do I know if I was immunized?
Albertans uncertain of their immunization history, or their child’s immunization history, can call their local public health office or Health Link Alberta (1.866.408.5465) to discuss.
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