Students at Clear Water Academy possibly exposed to measles

CALGARY – Officials are warning parents and children who visited Clear Water Academy a week ago that they may have been exposed to measles.

Alberta Health Services is cautioning those who were in Keller Hall during the school day on January 28, 29 and 30th to check their immunization records and watch for signs of the illness.

Officials say a child who contracted measles was in Keller Hall between 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on those dates.

Measles is 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 southwest private school during the time in question and develops symptoms before February 20th should avoid contact with other people and contact a doctor.

The school says Keller Hall will be closed on Friday, February 7th and Monday, February 10th, but will function normally for all students in Bessborough Hall and Athlone Hall.

AHS says this is the third confirmed case of measles in Calgary this year. It’s not thought to be linked to any other Calgary cases, or be travel-related.

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.

You are immune to/adequately protected against measles if you and/or your child:

• were born before 1970 (does not apply to healthcare workers) or
• have had a blood test showing evidence of prior measles infection or
• have documentation of two doses (given more than 1 month apart) of measles-containing vaccine given on or after 12 months of age.

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.

If you have any questions, please contact Health Link Alberta at 403 943-LINK (5465) in the Calgary area 1-866-408-LINK (5465) toll free outside the Calgary area.