‘Why would you choose to get ill?’: Doctor issues warning as Alberta measles cases soar

With measles soaring in Alberta, more Albertans are at risk of serious side effects or even death from the highly infectious disease — and the government needs to tell a large number of unvaccinated Albertans to get immunized, said Dr. Richard Owen.

The president of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association cited “a lack of government leadership and action to improve low immunization rates” and warned Tuesday that two deaths among hundreds of cases in Texas could be replicated here.

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Alberta’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Mark Joffe, needs to speak to the people, Owen said.

“His message needs to be clear — (measles) is not a normal childhood illness. Why would you choose to get ill if you don’t have to? It kills some people. Two children have died in Texas and one adult has died in Texas from an outbreak. They have a very similar demographic down there. They’ve got communities that have low vaccination rates for various reasons. And we have very low vaccination rates in some of our communities, and they’re very vulnerable,” Owen said.

On March 15, there were just two households in Alberta known to be affected by the measles, one in northern Alberta and one in the south. The province advised people to consult their primary physician for advice on protecting themselves and their families against the virus.

By Tuesday there were 43 active measles cases.

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“It doesn’t have to double very many times and we’ll be up in the hundreds (of cases),” Owen said. Measles is more transmissible than COVID-19.

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“It’s kind of the disease that all other transmissible illnesses are measured, and I think the government needs to go out there strongly and advise on their own recommendations that patients make sure they have the MMR vaccine,” said Owen, who is an associate professor at the University of Alberta.

“Why haven’t we heard from the chief medical officer?” he said.

Measles has been imported to Alberta by travellers visiting in other regions where the highly contagious disease has taken hold.

Some 95 per cent of the public needs to be immunized for community immunity, Owen said, but Alberta has just 69 per cent of the whole population immunized with two doses by age 2, according to Interactive Health Data Application, 2023.

Among the lowest vaccination rates, High Level has just 11 per cent of its residents vaccinated. In Two Hills County, one-quarter are vaccinated; in County of Forty Mile, 27 per cent, MD of Taber with 28 per cent and Wabasca with 30 per cent.

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The news release issued Tuesday called for the province to communicate accurate and regular updates with measles information to the public, to release a plan to increase population vaccine rates to 95 per cent, and to report better data than the available government website, with current and frequently updated data instead of data as old as 2023, and to use a more user-friendly version, similar to the respiratory virus dashboard.

Measles complications

Those born before 1970 are generally considered to be immune at this point.

Measles complications include pneumonia and brain inflammation that can cause seizures, blindness or brain damage. In rare cases measles can cause death, with more than 100,000 deaths worldwide in 2023.

It is extremely contagious and is spread through the air, even after an infected person has left a space. A person can be infectious four days before a rash appears.

Reactions to the MMR vaccine are generally mild and transient and include pain and redness at the injection site, fever less than 39°C, and a rash.

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Albertans can text “vaccine records” to 88111 to see current vaccines and call 811 to book a vaccine dose if you are not already immune.

People should cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when sick.

Exposures around the province are listed at ahs.ca/measles.

If you fall sick with fever and are not immune to measles, call your doctor or 811 and get safe directions on how to be tested.

Asked for an interview, Alberta Health issued a statement Tuesday, saying the provincial government takes its cues from Alberta’s chief medical officer of health and collaborates with Alberta Health Services.

“Dr. Joffe and public health officials have been closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with Alberta Health Services to manage the outbreak response,” the statement said.

While the current situation in the province is “concerning,” it remains localized, with all cases “traceable,” it said.

The government is committed to providing Albertans with “the information needed to protect themselves from measles,” the statement read.

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“We have a dedicated measles webpage on alberta.ca offering updated information to help the public manage their health needs related to the disease,” the statement said, adding that the page is updated each weekday and that AHS issues local bulletins to warn people of potential exposures.

“The information we are providing is accurate, in line with the information provided in other jurisdictions, and appropriate to the current circumstances,” the statement reads.

jcarmichael@postmedia.com

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