Measles case reported in Taber after infected person returns from travel

By Medicine Hat News on March 19, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

A case of measles has been reported in Taber after the individual arrived in Calgary last week following a flight from Toronto.

Alberta Health Services announced Tuesday that the person also spent several hours at the emergency room on March 11, 12 and 13 in the town located between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, as well as a drugstore and car rental agency in Calgary.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be deadly or lead to serious and long-lasting complications. It is preventable, but has been found increasingly in North America as vaccination rates wane.

AHS began daily public reporting of measles in the province after 13 initial cases were found in Edmonton, Calgary and northern Alberta this week.

On Tuesday, it announced that a person visiting Taber arrived in Calgary from Toronto on flight No. F8629 on March 8, then rented a vehicle at the Budget location at the Calgary Airport near midnight.

The risk of infection can remain for several hours after an infected person leaves the area, meaning the exposure period is stated as up to three hours after departure.

Other potential exposure times are:

– Taber Health Centre emergency dept., from 5:30-8:15 p.m., March 11;

– Taber Shoppers Drug Mart, from 6:15-9 p.m., March 11;

– Taber Health Centre emergency dept., from approximately 10:15 p.m. on March 12 until 10:50 a.m. on March 13.

Anyone attending these locations at these times who was born after 1970 with less than two doses of measles vaccine is at risk of contracting the disease. They should check their immunization records and monitor themselves for symptoms, including fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and blotchy rash that appears several days after fever.

If symptoms arise, individuals should remain at home and call Health Link service at 8-1-1 before visiting a health facility, doctor’s office or pharmacy.

According to health professionals, one in 10 cases of measles results in ear or lung infections, and one in 1,000 brain swelling.

One to three cases out of 1,000 can result in death.

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