Measles exposure alert issued for Calgary airport as Alberta cases continue to climb

Breaking news from Alberta Health Services Thursday night, as a measles exposure alert has been issued for the Calgary airport.

Alberta Health Services issued a measles exposure alert for the Calgary airport on Thursday night.

If you were at the domestic terminal on Wednesday morning, there’s a chance you were exposed, even if you didn’t come into contact with the infected person.

Alberta Health Services says the measles virus can linger in the air for hours.

Someone with a confirmed case of measles was on a flight from Kamloops and got to domestic arrivals gate A17 just after 8 a.m.

They then departed at gate C55 on WestJet flight 630 to Prince Edward Island.

Infectious disease experts say measles is the most contagious virus they deal with.

Not only does it hang in the air for hours, but it is also really good at getting around the body’s defences.

For some viruses, including COVID and flu, you have to inhale dozens of virus particles, but with measles, a single virus particle is all it takes.

This exposure alert comes as 27 more cases have been confirmed in Alberta.

That pushes the total since the outbreak began to just over 1,100.

Fourteen cases were reported in the south health zone, which still has the highest numbers by far in the province at 719.

The province says the best protection against measles is to ensure you are up to date with your immunizations.

Alberta Health Services provides free measles vaccines through public health centres.

Alberta Health Services has said of previous exposures, “Anyone who attended these locations at these times who was born in or after 1970 and has less than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine is at risk for developing measles.”

The provincial health authority has suggested anyone who may have been exposed “review their immunization records and monitor themselves for symptoms of measles.”

Symptoms include, according to AHS:

• Fever of 38.3 C or higher;
• Cough, runny nose and 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.

Those with symptoms are advised by AHS to call Health Link (811) before attending clinics, pharmacies, etc.