Measles 'out of control,' experts warn, as Alberta case counts surpass 1,000

Alberta's measles outbreaks have now eclipsed the 1,000-case mark and infectious disease specialists are warning the virus is "impossible to contain," given the current level of transmission.

The province reported another 24 cases on Friday, including 14 in the north zone, nine in the south and one in the Edmonton zone.

This brings the total confirmed cases since the outbreaks began in March to 1,020.

"It is a very grim milestone," said Dr. Karina Top, a pediatric infectious disease physician at the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, which has been treating children with measles.

"I'm very worried we're going to see more hospitalizations and some deaths soon because we know the death rate is about one to two per thousand. So it's likely that we're going to see that and that will be a very tragic day."

Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications including pneumonia, brain inflammation — which can trigger seizures, deafness and brain damage — as well as premature delivery.

A premature baby who was born with measles died in Ontario recently. And another young child died of measles in that province last year.

Doctors warn there are severe long-term consequences as well, including immune system impacts and a degenerative neurological condition that occurs seven to ten years after an initial measles infection. It is rare but nearly always fatal.

Alberta's case count has more than doubled in the last month. On May 20, a total of 486 cases had been confirmed.

"This is out of control," said Top.

The hardest hit areas are the south, central and north zones, where there are some very low vaccination rates among young children.

Case counts have been rising quickly in the north zone, which has now topped 200 cases. The south zone has confirmed 681 cases and the central zone has 105.

And health officials are warning the virus is more widespread in those areas than case counts reflect.

"Due to the number of people in these areas who may not be immune to measles, it's likely that some cases are going undetected or unreported," the Alberta government's measles web page states.