Overview
Measles outbreaks are occurring in Canada, including Alberta. These outbreaks are highly preventable.
Choose to protect your family and your community by ensuring you are protected against measles.
About measles
Measles is extremely contagious and spreads easily through the air. The best protection against measles is to ensure you are up to date with your immunizations.
Measles cases are increasing globally, with numerous countries and travel destinations reporting outbreaks including Canada, the United States and Europe.
Measles is a virus that spreads easily through the air when someone who has measles coughs or sneezes. Measles is sometimes called rubeola or red measles.
Measles symptoms include:
- a high fever
- a cough
- a runny nose
- red eyes
- a blotchy, red rash that appears 3 to 7 days after the fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and to the arms and legs
Measles can be dangerous because:
- 1 in 10 people with measles will get middle ear or lung infections
- 1 in 1,000 people with measles will get encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to seizures, deafness, or brain damage
- 1 to 3 of every 1,000 people with measles will die
Who is most at risk
You are at risk of being in contact with measles if you travel outside of Canada or to areas within Canada where measles is spreading. If you have not had measles in the past or if you have not been fully immunized against it and you come into contact with the virus, you are at risk of getting measles. Over 90% of people who are not immune to measles and who come into contact with the virus will become infected.
Measles tends to be more severe in babies and adults.
If you were born before 1970, there is a good chance you are immune to measles, as you were likely exposed to measles when it circulated widely before 1970.
How measles spreads
Measles is an extremely contagious disease, spread easily through the air.
You do not need to be in direct contact with someone who is infected. You can get measles just by passing through a room or location where a person who is infected was up to 2 hours before. The person who is infected does not still need to be there to put you at risk of disease.
Measles can also be spread through coughing, sneezing, yelling, singing, and breathing.
If you have measles, you can spread the disease before you show any symptoms. Measles can spread starting 4 days before the rash appears until 4 days after the rash appears.
- To learn more about measles disease read the Measles disease information sheet
Who is protected
Children in Alberta typically receive their first dose of measles containing vaccine at 12 months of age, and their second dose at 18 months of age. Children who received 2 doses of vaccine are considered protected.
Adults born in 1970 or later should have a documented history of 2 life-time doses of measles containing vaccine spaced at least four weeks apart if you do not have a history of lab confirmed disease or serological evidence of measles immunity.
Adults born before 1970 are generally considered immune to measles, as measles circulated widely before 1970. One or 2 doses of the vaccine may be recommended if you are a healthcare worker, student at a post-secondary educational institution or are traveling outside of Canada.
Prevention of measles
Get immunized
Learn about vaccine eligibility, effectiveness, safety and side effects.
If you have any questions about measles or immunizations, contact your primary care provider such as your doctor, pharmacist, midwife, nurse practitioner, or public health nurse.
If you do not know you or your child’s immunization history, text "vaccine record" to 88111, call Health Link at 811, or call your local public health or community health centre.
Statistics on childhood immunization rates based on population in Alberta, are available on the Interactive Health Data Application.
Prevent the spread
There are things you can do to prevent getting sick and to protect others:
- Get your measles immunizations.
- Stay home when feeling sick. Measles can last about 2 weeks.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Call Health Link at 811 before visiting any hospital, clinic or healthcare provider.
If you think you have been exposed to measles
- If you think you or your child has been exposed to measles, and you are not fully immunized (with 2 doses of measles vaccine), call Health Link at 811 before visiting any healthcare provider, clinic, or hospital. The registered nurse who answers your call will guide you on the next steps.
- If you have contact with the measles virus, are not immunized, and are at risk for serious illness, you may get immune globulin. Immune globulin can help prevent measles or prevent you from getting seriously sick if you do get measles.
- Immune globulins give quick, short-term protection. For long-term protection, immunization is needed.
- Learn more about immune globulin.
Travel advice
Travellers should check to see if travel measures are in effect for their destination.
- See Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisory for more information.
Get help
Online resources are available if you need advice on handling stressful situations:
- Help in Tough Times (Alberta Health Services)
If you need to talk to someone, call the 24-hour Mental Health Help Line:
- Phone: 1-877-303-2642