Over 100 people contacted by AHS after confirmed measles case in Banff

Alberta Health Services has contacted over 100 people who may have been exposed to measles, after a confirmation of the disease in Banff this weekend.

Medical officer of health for the Calgary Zone, Dr. Judy MacDonald, said the man lives and works in the town.

“The concerning thing about this case is there’s no history of travel,” she said. “This measles must’ve come to him in Banff.”

MacDonald suspects the man received the disease from a traveller and noted there are some current outbreaks, such as in Japan.

Since the confirmation on the weekend, AHS has contacted over 100 people, and cite two locations where people could’ve been exposed.

Those locations are the OK Gift Shop on Banff Avenue on Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26 between 1:45 p.m. and closing, as well as the IGA on Marten Street on Wednesday, May 30, between 5;00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

“When we have a case of measles, there’s a lot of work that must be done as soon as possible,” she said. “The message is for people that live within Calgary or in the Banff area because you are in an area where there’s people coming to visit and international travellers that you need to pay attention to your measles status.”

Some of the people who have been contacted have been quarantined.

AHS says those who were in the above locations born after 1970, who haven’t had measles before and haven’t received two doses of the measles vaccine, may be at risk.

Symptoms include a fever of 38.3° C or higher, cough, runny nose and/or red eyes and a red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.

Anyone with concerns about their or their children’s immunization history should call the local public health office or Health Link.

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