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Over 100 people asked to stay away from public because of Edmonton measles case

The Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton.
The Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton. Global News

EDMONTON – Following a recent lab-confirmed case of measles in Edmonton, 101 people are being asked to temporarily stay away from the public because of potential exposure, according to Alberta Health Services (AHS).

An official with AHS told Global News a person under the age of 18 was recently treated for the extremely contagious illness and was at the Stollery Children’s Hospital. While they were there, as well as at a non-AHS family medicine practice, dozens of people were potentially exposed to the infection. According to AHS, everyone potentially exposed has been notified, but of those, 101 people were not immune.

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The impacted people are being asked to follow what AHS refers to as an exclusion, meaning they’re required to stay away from public places like work, school, public transit, or stores for the remainder of their incubation period, which an AHS document says can last up to 21 days. In an email, a health official told Global News that is standard protocol in these situations.

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AHS says anyone born after 1970, who has not had measles or who has not been immunized is not immune to measles, is at risk of developing the disease if exposed to someone who has it.

AHS said the case is not a risk to the general public.

There is no ongoing risk at the Stollery and it is open as per usual, AHS said.

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