Person infected with measles went to West Edmonton Mall: AHS

Alberta Health Services issues a warning of possible measles exposures at several locations in Edmonton, including West Edmonton Mall.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) says a person with confirmed measles from outside of the city who travelled to Edmonton, has been in several public areas while infectious, including West Edmonton Mall.

Individuals in the following locations during the specified dates and times may have been exposed to the highly infectious disease.

Canadian Tire

West Point Centre, 9909 178 Street NE, Edmonton

• May 18: Exposure time: Approx. 3:20 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Costco

7259 Winterburn Road NW, Edmonton

• May 18: Exposure time: Approx. 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• May 20: Exposure time: Approx. 5:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
• May 21: Exposure time: Approx. 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Home Depot

17404 99 Avenue NW, Edmonton

• May 19: Exposure time: Approx. 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.

West Edmonton Mall

8882 170 Street NW, Edmonton

• Various locations throughout the mall including Barber Express and the Hudson’s Bay
• May 19: Exposure time: Approx. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Fort Edmonton Park Train

7000 143 Street NW, Edmonton

• May 20: Exposure time: Approx. 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Anyone who attended any of these locations at the specified times, who was born in or after 1970 and has less than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine, may be at risk of developing measles, said AHS in a statement issued Thursday morning.

If you think you have been exposed and are not protected against measles, you can receive immunization to reduce the risk of infection within 72 hours.

Babies under one, people with severely weakened immune systems and those who are pregnant may be able to receive immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to prevent infection.

Measles vaccines are offered free of charge through Alberta’s immunization program. The vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and is recommended in two doses, the first at one year of age and the second at 18 months.

Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3 C or higher, cough, runny nose and or/red eyes as well as a rash that appears three to seven days after a fever starts. The rash usually begins behind the ears and on the face, spreading down to the body to the arms and legs. The rash appears red and blotchy on lighter skin colours and can look purple on darker skin colours.

AHS warns that complications of measles can include ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, premature delivery and seldom, death.

As of Wednesday, there are 14 active measles cases in Alberta. There have been a total of 628 cases, 472 of which are in the southern Alberta zone. The majority of those infected have been between the ages of five and 17.