Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a warning to Calgarians that a person with lab-confirmed measles was in public settings in the city while contagious.
Residents who were in the same locations as the infected individual between Dec. 11 and Dec. 17 may have been exposed, AHS says.
The locations and dates are:
- Dec. 11 — WestJet flight WS 1553 from Seattle to Calgary.
- Dec. 11 — Calgary International Airport (YYC) Gate D89 between 5:55 p.m. and 7:55 p.m.
- Dec. 11 — YYC international baggage claim area between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
- Dec. 11 — YYC international arrivals waiting area between 6:30 p.m. and 8:50 p.m.
- Dec. 14 — Real Canadian Superstore Westwinds (3633 Westwinds Drive N.E.) between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Dec. 15 — Alberta Children’s Hospital emergency department between 12:38 a.m. and 10:47 p.m.
- Dec. 15 — Alberta Children’s Hospital diagnostic imaging department between 10:24 a.m. and 12:24 p.m.
- Dec. 15-17 — Alberta Children’s Hospital, Unit 4, between Dec. 15 at 8:47 p.m. to Dec. 17 at 10:08 p.m.
According to AHS, anyone born in or after 1970 who was present at these areas during the specified times and who has received fewer than two recorded doses of the measles-containing vaccine is at risk of contracting the disease. It is quite easy to spread measles indoors.
According to AHS, those who are most at risk—those who are pregnant, younger than a year old, or have compromised immune systems—should call Health Link at 811 because they might qualify for medicine that lowers the chance of contracting measles.
It is highly recommended that anybody who visited these sites during these periods check their immunization records and keep an eye out for measles symptoms.
A fever of 38.3 C or higher, together with a cough, runny nose, and/or red eyes, are all signs of measles. Three to seven days after the fever begins, a red, blotchy rash forms on the face and behind the ears, then moves down the body to the arms and legs.
