This morning (April 11), Alberta Health Services issued a health advisory, confirming one case of measles in the Calgary Zone.

AHS says one man was infected with measles out of province, and they have been able to identify all the spaces he attended since being infected. In particular, AHS says anyone that was at the Shoppers Drug Mart on Silver Springs Boulevard in Calgary on April 2 between noon and 2:30pm may have been exposed to the illness.

Airdrie falls under AHS's Calgary Zone, and Dr. David Strong, Medical Health Officer with AHS Calgary Zone, said there is a slight chance someone in Airdrie could have been exposed to measles since the location in Northwest Calgary is so close to our community.

"Potentially there might have been somebody from Airdrie, so we're really just reaching out, if you will, to try to identify those people so we can get some contact information, if they call Health Link and then we can do some follow up with them."

Health Link can be reached by dialing 811.

Dr. Strong also said this is a good reminder to take preventative steps against measles for you and your children.

"Measles is not something we can treat. We can provide supportive care, but we can prevent and we prevent it by immunizing people."

Dr. Strong said the only place to get a measles immunization is a Public Health Clinic.

"We have them all over through the zone, and there is one in Airdrie. It would be through the Public Health Clinics that we would be offering this vaccine. You can't get it through your family doctor, it's through Public Health."

Airdrie's Public Health Clinic is located at Urgent Care, but immunizations are not done on a walk-in basis. Appointments must be scheduled over the phone.

 

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