In recent weeks, measles has prompted Alberta Health Services (AHS) to issue warnings to the public in many areas in Alberta.
High Prairie is no exception.
July 10, AHS notified the public a person with a confirmed case of the disease was in a public setting while infectious. The person was at the High Prairie Health Complex Community Health and Wellness Clinic from 11:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on July 8.
AHD advises anyone who attended the Wellness Clinic, and who was born in or after 1970, and has fewer than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine, may be at risk of developing the disease. Monitoring of symptoms of the disease is strongly recommended as is reviewing vaccine records.
Measles is an extremely contagious disease and the virus spreads easily through the air. Symptoms include a fever of 38 C or higher, a cough, runny nose and/or red eyes, and a rash that appears 3-7 days after the fever starts, usually beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and then to the arms and legs. The rash appears blotchy on lighter skin colour. On darker skin colour, skin can appear purple or darker than the skin around it, making it difficult to see.
Complications of measles can include ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, premature delivery and rarely death.
People who are pregnant, less than five years of age or have weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of serious complications.
If symptoms develop, people are advised to stay home and call the measles hotline at (1-844) 944-3434 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician or pharmacy.