Latest measles exposure reported at Vegreville hospital: AHS

The St. Joseph's General Hospital in Vegreville. (Photo: Covenant Health)

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is reporting possible measles exposure at a Vegreville hospital last week.

AHS issued a warning saying people who visited the Emergency Department and Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging at St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Vegreville on April 29 and 30 may have been in contact with measles.

Exposure time periods listed for the health facility are:

April 29

• Exposure 7 p.m. to 4:45 a.m. (April 30)

April 30

• Exposure 4:40 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Individuals who were at those locations at the specific dates and times listed, and who were born in or after 1970 and have not received two doses of measles vaccine, may be at risk for developing measles, according to AHS.

• Sign up for breaking news emails from CTV News Edmonton, right at your fingertips

There were a total of 287 measles cases reported by the province as of Tuesday afternoon, with the majority of cases being reported in the central (79) and south (171) zones. Of those, 42 were known to be active and contagious.

The province announced efforts to ramp up immunization against measles on Monday, including a new immunization hotline and expanded vaccine eligibility for infants.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air. Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk from the virus.

The provincial health authority says Albertans are encouraged to monitor for symptoms of the infection and to check their health records to see if they are immunized against measles.

Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that appears 3 to 7 days after the fever begins. The rash can appear as red or purple splotches on the face, body and limbs.

AHS says people who develop symptoms should stay at home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting a clinic, pharmacy or other health care provider.