The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is forming a special panel on measles, calling the recent surge in cases an escalating crisis. The AMA says the panel’s role is to help eliminate confusion around the virus and provide clear, expert guidance. It notes with cases now in every zone in the province, immediate action like this is required. The panel is made up of physicians who are leaders in immunization, measles and infectious diseases at the provincial and federal level. The group will speak publicly for the first time Thursday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. The AMA says they will discuss how to slow Alberta’s measles outbreak, the real risks if we fail to act, who is most vulnerable, and what immediate steps Albertans must take. Ten new cases of the virus were announced Wednesday, meaning Alberta is now nearing 300 confirmed cases. However, the AMA believes the number of hospitalizations suggests the true number is higher. On Thursday, the Alberta government reported 16 new measles cases to bring the province’s total count to 313.
