Health advisory: Measles exposures in Spruce Grove

SPRUCE GROVE -- The Alberta government is notifying the public of recent measles exposures in Spruce Grove.

The province says the first exposure took place at the Tri Wellness MD Centre (Suite 100, 7 Tri Leisure Way, Spruce Grove) on Monday, Feb. 2, from approximately 10:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. An exposure warning was also issued for Mint Pharmacy -- which is located next to the Tri Wellness MD Centre -- during the same time frame. 

These exposures prompted an advisory to be issued by the Public Health Division in the Department of Primary and Preventative Health Services. They note that anyone who attended these locations during these times may be at risk of developing measles -- especially those born in or after 1970 and those who have never had measles disease.

They also ask residents who attended the two facilities during the aforementioned periods to monitor for symptoms, and to review their immunization records. If symptoms of measles do develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.

Measles is an extremely contagious disease, and the virus spreads easily through the air. Symptoms of measles include:

• Fever of 38.3° C or higher
• Cough, runny nose and/or red eyes
• A rash that appears 3 to 7 days after fever starts, usually beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and then to the arms and legs. The rash appears red and blotchy on lighter skin colours. On darker skin colours, it can appear purple or darker than the skin around it, or it might be hard to see.

For the latest information on measles in Alberta, you can visit ahs.ca/measles.