Calgary has largely evaded the brunt of the province’s measles outbreak, but experts say an uptick in cases is likely as the city hosts the annual Stampede festivities. Read More
Indoor and outdoor exposure to measles at the Calgary Stampede could cause an uptick in cases say AHS doctors
Indoor and outdoor exposure to measles at the Calgary Stampede could cause an uptick in cases say AHS doctors
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Calgary has largely evaded the brunt of the province’s measles outbreak, but experts say an uptick in cases is likely as the city hosts the annual Stampede festivities.
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Organizers expect over 1.3 million people to visit the Stampede this year, locally, nationally and from around the world.
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As of Friday, the province has reported 1,190 cases in the province, 745 of which were in the province’s south zone and 305 in the north zone. Calgary has reported 24 cases and Edmonton is at 10. Nine cases across the province are currently communicable.
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“When we look at the overall vaccine rate, it seems higher in the larger city so that’s going to help keep those numbers somewhat lower than maybe we have seen in other parts of the province,” Dr. Craig Jenne, infectious disease specialist said. “But the vaccine rate is not high enough for true herd immunity, so unfortunately we can likely expect some additional cases.”
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Experts have long warned that measles is an especially infectious disease as the virus is airborne and can spread both indoors and outdoors. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the space and those infected may only show symptoms days after they have contracted virus.
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“One of the advantages of Stampede is that it brings a lot of us together to celebrate and have a good time,” he said. “But unfortunately that advantage is also something viruses can leverage to travel or transmit to perhaps part of the provinces that haven’t yet seen cases.”
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People visiting from communities that are currently unexposed to the virus, may end up becoming infected and take those viruses back to their communities, he said.
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It’s hard to predict how the Stampede event would encourage a measles spread, according to Dr. Karla Gustafson, Alberta Health Service’s medical officer of health for the Calgary zone.
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Most of the events held in outdoor spaces might pose a lower risk of infection.
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“However measles, we know, is one of the most contagious viruses, so even having that sort of outdoor airspace won’t be enough,” she said.
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However the healthcare system, she said, is prepared and well braced to handle an uptick in cases alongside the usual support required for an event of this size.
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Currently, two people are hospitalized with the measles, and there are zero patients in the ICU.
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Children most at risk for catching measles
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The Alberta Children’s Hospital, according to Jenne, may especially see an uptick in cases, particularly as young Albertans, among the most vulnerable to the disease, attend the Stampede. The hospital serves a much larger area than just the city, he added and may need to respond to more asks for healthcare.