Reminder on Measles
Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) is asking primary care providers to take the following action regarding measles prevention and testing:
- Ensure you and your staff are fully vaccinated to prevent acquiring measles
- Familiarize yourself with the clinical presentation of measles
- Check that you have sufficient supplies of nasopharyngeal swabs, Universal/Viral Transport medium and sterile urine containers for sample collection, and ensure the transport medium has NOT expired (expiry date on container)
- Familiarize yourself and your nursing staff with how to collect a nasopharyngeal swab
- Ensure you have sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment, especially N95 respirators
- Before sending a suspect measles patient to have their blood collected, first contact the APL Appointment Booking line at 1-877-702-4486
- Refer to the APL Guide to Services for additional information
- Refer to the AHS IPC Acute Care Resource Manual for additional information
Read the 05-14-2024 lab bulletin
Past Content
Measles update: confirmed case in Edmonton / additional provider resources
AHS has confirmed that an individual with lab-confirmed measles has been in public settings in Edmonton while infectious. You can find details on exposure locations in this health advisory.
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.
Exposed people born in or after 1970 who have received fewer than two doses of measles-containing vaccine, who are pregnant, under one year of age, or have a weakened immune system are at greatest risk and should contact Health Link at 1-877-720-0707 as they may be eligible for medication to prevent measles.
Anyone who attended these locations at these times is strongly encouraged to review their immunization records and monitor themselves for symptoms of measles.
If symptoms of measles do develop, these individuals are advised to stay home and call Health Link at 811 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider.
Although no cases of measles have been identified in Alberta in 2024, outbreaks are occurring around the world and Albertans may contract the disease through travel if they are not immune. AHS is advising anyone with symptoms of measles to stay at home, avoid contact with others and call 811 before visiting any hospital, clinic or healthcare provider.
Symptoms include:
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- fever 38.3°C or higher
- cough, runny nose, or red eyes, and
- a red, blotchy rash appearing three to seven days after fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreads down to the body and then to the arms and legs.
- For full details on measles, immunization and severity, please see htps://myhealth.alberta.ca/topic/immunization/pages/Measles.aspx.
- For more information on routine childhood immunizations, including for measles, visit ahs.ca/immunize.
- To receive information about measles, text ‘measles’ to 88111.
- Additional provider information will be coming soon.
