EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services has confirmed Edmonton’s seventh case of measles in an infant who recently travelled to the city from India.
Although the illness was contracted outside the country, the health authority said there are strong concerns the child passed on the highly contagious virus at a number of public setting in recent days. Included are a series of flights on April 24th from New Delhi to Edmonton, and a handful of health offices on the south side.
“The case is related to international travel; however, there were a number of exposures in the Edmonton zone,” said Dr. Marcia Johnson, medical officer of health. “We are, unfortunately, expecting more cases. It does take some time from the point that you run into the virus until you develop symptoms, and that can range from about five days to 21 days. So for each case, we kind of hold our breath and watch very carefully for the next three weeks.”
The April 24th flights on which the infant travelled are:
Lufthansa Flight LH763 from New Delhi to Munich;
Lufthansa Flight LH6790 from Munich to Toronto; and
Air Canada AC157 from Toronto to Edmonton, arriving at 8:44 p.m.
AHS said anyone who was in the Edmonton International Airport between 8:44 and 11:15 p.m. may have also been exposed. The health authority said there were also several exposure sites in Edmonton in the days following the flight.
Included is the All-Well Medical Clinic (4217 23rd Ave.) on April 27th between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and the Walmart at 1203 Parsons Rd., between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The infected baby was also at Dr. Mahesh Bhambhani’s clinic (209-9252 34th Ave.) on April 28th, between 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and again on April 29th from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
In addition, AHS is warning about exposures on April 28th at the Tawa Centre (3015 66th St.), particularly the Dynalife Lab between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Medical Imaging Consultants between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Anyone who may have been in contact with the sick infant is asked to look for symptoms of the disease such as red eyes, fever, rash and cough. Those with symptoms should stay home and call Health Link at 1-866-408-5465.
Of the Edmonton zone’s seven cases this spring, three have occurred in babies under 12 months of age who have been considered too young to be immunized.
This is also the second case related to international travel.
The first involved a child who flew to Edmonton from the Philippines via Vancouver on April 9. Three subsequent infections have so far been linked to that case.
Alberta has seen a total of 23 cases of measles so far this spring.
Johnson said AHS still has lots of appointment slots available next week for Edmonton area residents wanting to get their young children immunized.
The top priority for vaccinations are infants aged six months to 12 months. Typically children are not immunized until they are at least one year old, but AHS is making available a special “early” vaccine that will provide some short-term protection.
Besides infants, the other priority group for shots are young kids at least 12 months old who have not had a single dose of the regular vaccine.
Children at least four years old who have not received their second dose should also get a shot, as should non-immunized adults born in 1970 or later. People born before 1970 are generally considered to be immune.
Those wanting to make an appointment should call Health Link.
