Alberta surpasses all of the United States in confirmed measles cases

Alberta has surpassed the United States in confirmed measles cases, after 30 new cases were diagnosed over the weekend to bring the province's total to 1,314 cases.

Alberta has surpassed the United States in confirmed measles cases, after 30 new cases were diagnosed over the weekend.

Once declared eradicated in Canada in 1998, measles has made a comeback, spreading rapidly in recent months due to declining vaccination rates.

The province has now seen 1,314 cases since the beginning of March.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 1,288 cases so far this year across 39 states.

Measles, known for its characteristic red rash, is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet, with an R number of 12 to 18 — meaning one infected person can spread it to up to 18 others in an unvaccinated population.

To put that in perspective, COVID-19’s original strain had an R number of about two to three, and even highly transmissible variants like Omicron rarely exceeded 10.

The outbreak of the highly contagious disease hasn’t led to any deaths so far in Alberta.

Three people, including two children, have died in the United States.