EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has detected what it calls a “probable case” of measles in Red Deer.
Health officials are warning people who were at the following locations, during the times noted, to be aware they may have been exposed to the probable case of measles:
Real Canadian Superstore, including Horizon Family Medicine (5016 – 51 Ave., Red Deer)
· March 26, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Village Mall Medical Clinic (#22 6320 – 50 Ave., Red Deer)
· March 27, 2014 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
· March 30, 2014 from Noon to 4 p.m.
Dynalife laboratory (#101, 5002 – 55 St., Red Deer)
· March 28, 2014 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
AHS says people who attended the above locations may be at risk of developing measles, which is extremely contagious and easily spread through the air.
“Of all communicable diseases measles likely has the highest potential for transmission,” said Dr. Christopher Sikora, a Medical Officer of Health with AHS.
“Measles transmits very effectively from a person who is infectious to a susceptible individual or person who is not protected. That transmission rate may be in the range of 50 per cent to 90 per cent.”
The warning comes one day after a case of measles was confirmed in the Edmonton Zone.
Calgary has had six confirmed cases of measles this year, including two cases on April 2 that were tracked back to Western Canada High School.
There is no treatment for measles, but AHS says it can be prevented through immunization.
READ MORE: Measles confirmed across Canada, doctors blame anti-vaxxer movement
Measles symptoms include:
- fever of 38.3 C or higher; and
- 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 the body and then to the arms and legs.
Anyone who develops these symptoms is being told to stay home and call Health Link Alberta at 1-866-408-5465.
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