The Alberta government is implementing new measures to manage escalating measles outbreaks in the province, as case counts spike to levels not seen since 1987.
The province announced 42 active cases as of May 6, bringing the total to 287 since the onset of the outbreaks in March. It is the highest case count in Alberta since 1987, when 690 were confirmed.
“At this time, we are looking at the highest number of measles cases in the province in decades,” interim chief medical officer of health Dr. Sunil Sookram said during a May 5 press conference. “Up until now, we thought the disease had been eradicated—but things have changed. Measles is now circulating in several areas in our province, and it’s quite concerning.”…