Measles

Learn about measles and how to protect yourself and your family.

Measles Hotline: Call 1-844-944-3434 for inquiries regarding your immunization records, symptoms, or to book an immunization appointment.

Overview

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that is spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Measles is sometimes called rubeola or red measles.

Measles outbreaks are occurring in Alberta and globally.

The best protection against measles is to ensure you are up to date with your immunizations. For those who cannot be immunized (for example: young infants, pregnant people and those with specific immunocompromising conditions), you can reduce the risk of acquiring measles by avoiding communities with significant measles spread, only socializing with people who you know are immunized and avoiding indoor gatherings.

Measles-containing vaccines are provided free of charge for eligible populations through Alberta Health Services public health centres.

Measles cases in Alberta

Measles transmission is currently occurring in Alberta, affecting individuals of all ages – including infants, children and adults. Most reported cases have been in children under 5 years old and those aged 5 to 17 who are not immunized.

Cases have been reported in all zones of the province, with the highest numbers in the north, south and central zones. 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.

Alberta Health Services shares known public exposure locations for the Edmonton, Calgary, Central and parts of the North Zone. A standing exposure advisory has been issued for the South Zone and areas of the North Zone. Site-specific exposure advisories will no longer be issued in these locations.

All Alberta residents, workers, students and visitors are advised to be aware of the increased risk of measles and ensure their measles immunizations are up to date.

Table 1. Diagnosed measles cases past their period of communicability* as of August 12, 2025

Case statusCases
Cases past period of communicability1,740
Known to be communicable (active)1
Total cases1,741

Data note(s):

  • This does not reflect risk in the community as there may be people with undiagnosed measles, nor does it reflect the number of persons who have been exposed to measles.
  • This estimated number is used for public reporting purposes only. Public health will determine period of communicability for individual measles cases for the purposes of contact management.
  • Period of communicability* (the time the other person can transmit measles to another person).

Table 2. Confirmed cases as of 12 pm, August 12, 2025

ZoneNew cases
since last update
Cases
North1581
Edmonton023
Central0118
Calgary051
South7968
Total81,741

Table 3. Cases by age group as of 12 pm, August 12, 2025

Age groupCount
<5 years491
5 to 17 years760
18 to 54 years481
55 years and older9
Total1,741

Table 4. Confirmed measles cases currently hospitalized as of August 11, 2025

Currently hospitalizedCases
Non-ICU1
ICU0
Total1

Data note(s):

  • Currently hospitalized data are provided by Alberta Health Services. This data does not include cases reported to Alberta Primary and Preventative Health Services from Indigenous Services Canada.
  • People in hospital who are not yet diagnosed or reported as a confirmed measles case are not included.

About measles

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that is spread 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 an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Measles is sometimes called rubeola or red measles.

Prevention of measles

Weekly reporting

As of August 2, 2025, a total of 1,667 confirmed measles cases were reported to Alberta Primary and Preventative Health Services.

Figure 1. Number of confirmed measles cases by week of reporting, 2025


Data below are updated each week on Thursday (Note: data on cases are only updated if more than 5 cases are reported since the previous week).
Chart data table
Week Cases
‌2025-03-09 7
2025-03-16 10
2025-03-23 5
2025-03-30 13
2025-04-06 38
2025-04-13 32
2025-04-20 47
2025-04-27 103
2025-05-04 97
2025-05-11 127
2025-05-18 113
2025-05-25 112
2025-06-01 93
2025-06-08 128
2025-06-15 120
2025-06-22 101
2025-06-29 72
2025-07-06 95
2025-07-13 142
2025-07-20 117
2025-07-27 95

Source: Government of Alberta

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Table 6. Cumulative counts of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths among confirmed measles cases between January 1 and August 2, 2025

 Count
Cases1,667
Hospitalizations136
ICU Admissions15
Death0
  • Counts are cumulative and not limited to those currently in hospital or ICU
  • ICU admissions are included in the total count of hospitalizations
  • Hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths are only included if the outcome was related to their measles infection. 

Table 7. Immunization status of confirmed measles cases as of August 2, 2025

Immunization status1Count
Unimmunized1,478
1 dose51
2 or more doses74
Unknown64
Total1,667

1Information on who is considered protected can be found in the Prevention of measles section.

Figure 2a. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Alberta

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 2665 2303 1644
Jan 5 3409 2513 2698
Jan 12 3657 2801 2914
Jan 19 3354 2979 2745
Jan 26 3764 3337 2937
Feb 2 3887 3322 2620
Feb 9 3613 2912 2749
Feb 16 3276 3013 2548
Feb 23 4550 3682 3477
Mar 2 4031 3840 3443
Mar 9 3998 4232 3914
Mar 16 3934 3921 5888
Mar 23 4018 3491 6175
Mar 30 2974 3170 5141
Apr 6 3588 3731 5684
Apr 13 3850 3604 4789
Apr 20 4062 3876 5202
Apr 27 3852 3436 4944
May 4 3875 2487 5614
May 11 3543 2588 5275
May 18 3348 2562 4560
May 25 3703 3083 5219
Jun 1 3925 3422 4967
Jun 8 3643 3053 4890
Jun 15 3602 3102 4479
Jun 22 2808 2708 3953
Jun 29 2703 2375 3036
Jul 6 2968 2623 3895
Jul 13 3280 2848 4444
Jul 20 3055 2597 4113
Jul 27 2693 2384 3294
Aug 3 2601 2084
Aug 10 3285 2746
Aug 17 3339 2658
Aug 24 2938 2488
Aug 31 2532 2224
Sep 7 3258 2733
Sep 14 2866 2640
Sep 21 2940 2562
Sep 28 2428 2195
Oct 5 2765 2664
Oct 12 2882 2396
Oct 19 3205 2732
Oct 26 2744 2801
Nov 2 3048 2898
Nov 9 2586 2453
Nov 16 3290 2958
Nov 23 3244 2728
Nov 30 3214 2956
Dec 7 2949 2820
Dec 14 2520 2605
Dec 21 1277 895

Source: Government of Alberta

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Figure 2b. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Calgary zone

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 1075 919 713
Jan 5 1297 957 1084
Jan 12 1498 1170 1219
Jan 19 1310 1061 1082
Jan 26 1645 1550 1190
Feb 2 1646 1477 1049
Feb 9 1509 1173 1125
Feb 16 1543 1360 1121
Feb 23 2174 1674 1614
Mar 2 1876 1637 1559
Mar 9 1761 1748 1752
Mar 16 1689 1570 2091
Mar 23 1713 1334 2159
Mar 30 1227 1222 1870
Apr 6 1595 1462 2123
Apr 13 1596 1382 1790
Apr 20 1743 1481 2069
Apr 27 1621 1234 1905
May 4 1665 816 2201
May 11 1479 890 2009
May 18 1448 1058 1939
May 25 1500 1119 2140
Jun 1 1823 1348 2056
Jun 8 1582 1295 2169
Jun 15 1612 1229 1890
Jun 22 1057 1038 1472
Jun 29 1132 883 1317
Jul 6 1055 955 1452
Jul 13 1327 1167 1783
Jul 20 1162 1097 1574
Jul 27 1069 909 1257
Aug 3 988 778
Aug 10 1245 1190
Aug 17 1211 1058
Aug 24 1010 899
Aug 31 996 896
Sep 7 1259 1096
Sep 14 1146 1010
Sep 21 1024 930
Sep 28 955 935
Oct 5 1109 994
Oct 12 1104 1034
Oct 19 1293 1115
Oct 26 1031 1064
Nov 2 1095 1156
Nov 9 960 1018
Nov 16 1271 1231
Nov 23 1239 949
Nov 30 1342 1188
Dec 7 1124 1124
Dec 14 955 1092
Dec 21 411 392

Source: Government of Alberta

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Figure 2c. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Edmonton zone

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 907 833 585
Jan 5 1147 921 936
Jan 12 1171 1007 987
Jan 19 1150 1130 943
Jan 26 1222 1098 1016
Feb 2 1320 1129 929
Feb 9 1209 1045 984
Feb 16 972 982 832
Feb 23 1447 1237 1041
Mar 2 1281 1327 1146
Mar 9 1263 1476 1120
Mar 16 1252 1332 1596
Mar 23 1342 1265 1954
Mar 30 1043 1197 1690
Apr 6 1145 1303 1654
Apr 13 1259 1329 1443
Apr 20 1335 1461 1647
Apr 27 1319 1339 1677
May 4 1330 1080 1679
May 11 1201 1103 1686
May 18 1136 934 1327
May 25 1293 1213 1559
Jun 1 1236 1241 1466
Jun 8 1244 1109 1453
Jun 15 1162 1117 1333
Jun 22 1038 927 1311
Jun 29 957 913 925
Jul 6 1137 994 1258
Jul 13 1236 972 1425
Jul 20 1186 942 1336
Jul 27 1031 899 1114
Aug 3 978 780
Aug 10 1241 943
Aug 17 1284 946
Aug 24 1152 957
Aug 31 931 788
Sep 7 1141 976
Sep 14 1043 959
Sep 21 1099 962
Sep 28 828 713
Oct 5 979 1023
Oct 12 1146 858
Oct 19 1209 998
Oct 26 1067 1071
Nov 2 1182 1072
Nov 9 975 820
Nov 16 1226 1051
Nov 23 1299 1104
Nov 30 1134 1092
Dec 7 1112 1087
Dec 14 926 879
Dec 21 590 356

Source: Government of Alberta

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Figure 2d. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Central zone

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 223 207 101
Jan 5 276 205 205
Jan 12 296 215 240
Jan 19 301 254 223
Jan 26 304 263 263
Feb 2 288 267 222
Feb 9 300 233 217
Feb 16 256 191 189
Feb 23 296 266 261
Mar 2 346 354 241
Mar 9 338 335 293
Mar 16 339 371 577
Mar 23 354 275 672
Mar 30 238 287 535
Apr 6 306 370 768
Apr 13 333 333 725
Apr 20 315 377 534
Apr 27 299 277 432
May 4 261 232 454
May 11 299 209 410
May 18 258 171 323
May 25 297 247 383
Jun 1 325 292 368
Jun 8 251 230 335
Jun 15 291 250 330
Jun 22 222 221 341
Jun 29 193 209 228
Jul 6 243 199 365
Jul 13 250 229 366
Jul 20 258 195 382
Jul 27 201 207 278
Aug 3 198 179
Aug 10 248 193
Aug 17 244 194
Aug 24 231 194
Aug 31 191 188
Sep 7 281 194
Sep 14 214 211
Sep 21 245 203
Sep 28 198 172
Oct 5 237 200
Oct 12 197 151
Oct 19 255 202
Oct 26 233 222
Nov 2 258 222
Nov 9 221 184
Nov 16 260 225
Nov 23 235 221
Nov 30 276 236
Dec 7 239 216
Dec 14 186 209
Dec 21 87 42

Source: Government of Alberta

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Figure 2e. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for North zone

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 238 207 146
Jan 5 408 255 263
Jan 12 396 302 278
Jan 19 336 349 287
Jan 26 314 260 290
Feb 2 361 283 242
Feb 9 328 318 251
Feb 16 290 298 247
Feb 23 359 325 337
Mar 2 347 344 303
Mar 9 398 436 592
Mar 16 380 382 1227
Mar 23 378 365 898
Mar 30 264 262 621
Apr 6 347 371 637
Apr 13 426 328 441
Apr 20 418 335 523
Apr 27 337 394 449
May 4 376 234 703
May 11 322 223 647
May 18 328 230 482
May 25 353 300 593
Jun 1 367 335 560
Jun 8 338 268 543
Jun 15 319 269 473
Jun 22 272 310 428
Jun 29 256 227 337
Jul 6 322 273 455
Jul 13 270 283 513
Jul 20 257 244 485
Jul 27 222 218 348
Aug 3 257 203
Aug 10 339 242
Aug 17 335 256
Aug 24 324 225
Aug 31 229 196
Sep 7 321 246
Sep 14 284 292
Sep 21 334 271
Sep 28 251 201
Oct 5 263 270
Oct 12 287 205
Oct 19 307 269
Oct 26 253 262
Nov 2 288 272
Nov 9 236 245
Nov 16 297 273
Nov 23 303 251
Nov 30 275 260
Dec 7 295 253
Dec 14 238 234
Dec 21 117 60

Source: Government of Alberta

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Figure 2f. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for South zone

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 218 133 92
Jan 5 272 165 199
Jan 12 292 100 183
Jan 19 254 175 199
Jan 26 273 159 170
Feb 2 265 162 171
Feb 9 265 140 170
Feb 16 205 177 148
Feb 23 264 174 213
Mar 2 178 169 178
Mar 9 230 226 142
Mar 16 269 249 374
Mar 23 224 238 462
Mar 30 194 193 412
Apr 6 193 218 479
Apr 13 232 225 368
Apr 20 247 211 410
Apr 27 273 182 460
May 4 239 119 539
May 11 235 154 501
May 18 175 161 460
May 25 254 196 529
Jun 1 168 197 484
Jun 8 224 138 371
Jun 15 213 226 433
Jun 22 211 206 383
Jun 29 160 138 211
Jul 6 202 192 346
Jul 13 191 186 331
Jul 20 185 114 320
Jul 27 167 144 290
Aug 3 175 139
Aug 10 210 168
Aug 17 254 189
Aug 24 217 203
Aug 31 181 150
Sep 7 249 212
Sep 14 169 153
Sep 21 233 171
Sep 28 192 167
Oct 5 171 161
Oct 12 144 133
Oct 19 136 136
Oct 26 152 171
Nov 2 222 159
Nov 9 189 176
Nov 16 229 165
Nov 23 162 189
Nov 30 180 164
Dec 7 173 128
Dec 14 205 180
Dec 21 69 42

Source: Government of Alberta

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Notes for Figure 2a-f:

  • Excludes measles immunoglobulin administered as post-exposure prophylaxis
  • Includes null doses administered to children < 12 months of age

Measles Toolkit

These resources are available to support those working with children, volunteers, parents, guardians and their families to stay informed and help prevent measles outbreaks in their communities. 

Get help

Online resources are available if you need advice on handling stressful situations:

If you need to talk to someone, call the 24-hour Mental Health Help Line: