Measles numbers may not reflect undiagnosed or exposure cases

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Over the past two-plus weeks, measles cases in Alberta’s north zone have continued to surpass the numbers in the south zone, which for months was the hotbed of viral activity. As of July 16, Alberta Health had recorded 1,340 cases of the virus province-wide, with 21 known communicable and active cases.

  In its daily update, the provincial health authority said that its case numbers may not account for undiagnosed or exposure cases.

  The weekly report divides the province into five zones: north, central, south, Edmonton, and Calgary. On July 16, the north zone tracked four new cases and 390 total this season. In the south zone, Alberta Health tracked 13 new cases, with a total of 795 to date. The central zone, Edmonton, and Calgary had no new active cases and a combined 155 for the season.

  In the under-five category, 391 children have been infected; in the ages five to 17 range, 577 cases have been tracked. Among the 18 to 54 population, 366 people have been infected. In those over 55, only six known instances of individuals contracting the virus have been tracked this season. No senior reported a single new infection in the past week. Province-wide, five people were hospitalized as of Wednesday.