Alberta Health Services have declared a measles outbreak in Calgary and central Alberta over, but residents in the Edmonton area will need to wait a little longer.
Officials say they were able to lift the outbreak order because measles disease activity dropped insignificant levels.
According to the AHS, more than 42 days have elapsed since the last date of infectiousness of the latest confirmed case of the disease in Calgary and central Alberta and no new cases of the disease are found.
As a result, AHS will not be offering any more early doses of the measles vaccine to infants aged six months to less than 12 months who live or are travelling to Calgary and central Alberta.
Any appointments that had been booked prior to June 12, however, will be honoured.
Any infants travelling to the Edmonton zone can still receive the immunization if the travel is unavoidable.
Officials add that while the outbreak has been lifted, measles does continue to circulate in Alberta and the rest of the world. The AHS says that immunization remains to be the best defence against the disease.
The outbreak was first called back on April 29, when nine cases of the disease were found in the city, along with 22 cases in the rest of the province.
Declaring an outbreak allowed health professionals to move forward with a plan to speed up the immunization schedule for infants at risk of contracting the disease.
Children in Alberta are recommended to receive two doses of the vaccine, the first given at 12 months old and the second between four and six years old.
Those children who regularly attend daycares, dayhomes, and schools are encouraged to have the second dose as soon as possible.
The measles immunization is available free of charge through the province’s immunization program.
For more information on the measles outbreak and measles disease in Alberta, visit their website or call Health Link Alberta (1.866.408.5465).
