Alberta is grappling with a measles crisis of historic proportions, as case numbers have surged to levels not seen since the Reagan administration. With 27 confirmed infections already this year, public health officials are sounding the alarm on what has become the province’s worst outbreak since 1986.
The sudden resurgence of this highly contagious disease has caught many by surprise. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, former chief medical officer of health for Alberta, has expressed particular concern about the concentration of cases in Calgary, where 22 of the 27 infections have been reported. This geographic clustering points to potentially dangerous community transmission dynamics.
“What we’re seeing is the predictable outcome of falling vaccination rates,” said Dr. Noel Gibney, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine. “When population immunity drops below 95 percent, measles finds these pockets of vulnerability and spreads rapidly.”
The outbreak has placed immense pressure on Alberta’s healthcare system, with several hospitals implementing enhanced screening protocols. At Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, where several cases have been treated, staff are now required to verify vaccination status for all visitors under the age of 18.
Health records indicate a troubling trend: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination rates have fallen below 85 percent in several Calgary neighborhoods. Provincial data shows that in 2013, Alberta boasted a 91.4 percent coverage rate for two doses of the MMR vaccine by age seven. By 2022, that number had plummeted to 85.9 percent.
“This isn’t just a statistical concern,” noted Dr. Christine Gibson, a family physician in Calgary. “Each percentage point we drop in vaccination rates represents thousands of vulnerable children who could suffer serious complications from a disease that’s entirely preventable.”
Indeed, the consequences of measles extend far beyond the characteristic rash. Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death in rare cases. The virus is so contagious that it can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room.
Alberta Health Services has responded by opening additional vaccination clinics and launching an awareness campaign targeting communities with low immunization rates. However, health officials acknowledge that rebuilding trust in vaccines after years of misinformation presents significant challenges.
“We’ve seen the anti-vaccine sentiment grow exponentially on social media,” explained Dr. Jia Hu, chair of 19 to Zero, a coalition formed to build vaccine confidence. “Combating this requires not just facts, but understanding the cultural and social factors that drive vaccine hesitancy.”
The current outbreak follows a concerning global pattern. According to the World Health Organization, global measles cases increased by 18 percent in 2023, with over 300,000 reported cases worldwide. Health experts have consistently linked these increases to declining vaccination rates.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw emphasized that addressing the outbreak requires a community-wide approach. “This isn’t just about individual choice—it’s about community protection. When vaccination rates fall, we put at risk those who cannot be vaccinated, including infants and immunocompromised individuals.”
For Alberta parents, the resurgence of measles has created difficult decisions. Lisa Jennings, a Calgary mother of three, recently rushed to get her youngest child vaccinated after delaying the shot. “I had concerns based on things I read online, but seeing real cases in our city changed my perspective completely,” she said.
As health officials continue monitoring the situation, the question remains: will this historic outbreak serve as the wake-up call needed to reverse declining vaccination trends, or are we witnessing the beginning of a new era where previously controlled diseases make an unwelcome comeback in our communities?
