alberta's measles count now over 500 cases in the province
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as of thursday morning, the province has recorded 505 cases of the virus, 130 more than reported last week.
natalya maisheva
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there are now more than 500 total cases of measles in alberta, with 17 cases currently active.
as of thursday morning, the province has recorded 505 cases of the virus, 130 more than reported last week.
the majority of cases are in the southern region of the province, where 362 cases have been recorded, followed by 92 in the central region and 33 in northern alberta.
few cases have been reported in calgary and edmonton, the province’s urban hubs, at 12 and six cases respectively.
several experts have attributed the rising counts to low vaccination rates, particularly in rural areas of the province, making the areas hotbeds for the virus to spread.
in the south zone, where the majority of the cases are concentrated, multiple communities show vaccination rates well below 50 per cent in 2024, including county of forty mile (30.2 per cent), the municipality of taber (39.1 per cent) and lethbridge (46.7 per cent).
in the central zone, two hills county reports a vaccination rate of just 24 per cent.
experts say that to ensure community immunity against the virus, at least 95 per cent of individuals must be vaccinated.
a spokesperson for alberta health said on thursday that while the situation is “concerning, the vast majority of cases remain traceable” and that they continue to monitor the situation.
alberta health services has also ramped up access to measles vaccinations across the province, by opening more clinic space and extending hours at existing clinics, based on risk and immunization needs, the statement added.
earlier this month, the province announced that they would transition their social media campaign encouraging albertans to check their vaccination records into one that encompassed radio, print, digital and social media advertising, available in 14 languages. the campaign, called “don’t get measles. get immunized” also shared an information toolkit for daycare and childcare facility operators.
the province’s efforts are “having an impact”, the spokesperson stated, leading to a 55 per cent increase in measles vaccine intake between march 16 and may 4, compared to the same period last year.
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