Most measles cases occur in those under 17 and not immunized

Southern Alberta Newspapers

This week’s measles count showed that the north zone is again the provincial hotspot for the virus. As of July 9, Alberta Health had recorded 1,230 cases of the virus, with 14 known communicable and active cases.

  “Most reported cases have been in children under five years old and those aged five to 17 who are not immunized,” the provincial health authority said in its update.

  The weekly report divides the province into five zones: north, central, south, Edmonton, and Calgary. The north zone has now outpaced the south for two straight weeks and as of July 9 had six new cases and 328 total this season. Here in the south zone, Alberta Health tracked four new cases, with a total of 757 to date. The central zone, Edmonton, and Calgary had three new active cases and a combined 145 for the season in total.

  In the under-five category, 358 children have been infected; in the ages five to 17 range, 544 cases have been tracked. Among the 18 to 54 population, 322 people have been infected. Those over 55 remain basically untouched, with only six known instances of individuals contracting the virus this season. No senior reported a single new infection in the past week. Province-wide, four people were hospitalized as of Wednesday.