Three more measles cases were reported in the Central Zone on Thursday to bring the total number of cases in the zone to 63 since March 28.
Alberta Health Services said there were no confirmed cases in Red Deer at this time.
A total of 129 cases have been reported so far in the province since March, including 113 people who are no longer able to transmit the disease to others, and 16 are still infectious.
As of April 19, nine cases have been hospitalized since the outbreak began.
As of Thursday, four new cases were also reported in the South Zone to reach 39 cases so far. Cases in Calgary held steady at five, along with Edmonton still at five, and the North Zone still at 17.
An updated list of potential exposure locations and dates can be found at www.alberta.ca/measles.
Measles is an extremely contagious disease that spreads easily through the air.
Symptoms include a fever of 38.3° C or higher; cough, runny nose and/or red eyes; and a red, blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, typically beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down the body and then to the arms and legs.
But measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and complications. In Alberta, the vaccine is available free of charge through the publicly funded immunization program.
People born in or since 1970 who have received fewer than two doses of measles-containing vaccine are susceptible to infection.
Those who have received fewer than two doses of measles-containing vaccine and are pregnant, under one year of age, or have a weakened immune system are at most risk of complications from measles.
Measles can be dangerous because:
• One in 10 people with measles will get middle ear or lung infections.
• One in 1,000 people with measles will get encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to seizures, deafness or brain damage.
• One to three of every 1,000 people with measles will die.
