22-05-2025
Alberta's measles count now over 500 cases in the province
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There are now over 500 cases of the measles in Alberta.
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As of Thursday morning, the province has recorded 505 cases of the virus, 130 more than reported last week.
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Majority of the cases are reported in the southern region of the province, where 362 cases have been recorded, followed by 92 cases in the central region and 33 in northern Alberta.
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Few cases have been reported in Calgary and Edmonton, the province's urban hubs, at 12 and 6 cases respectively.
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Several experts have attributed the rising counts to low vaccination rates, particularly in the rural areas of the province, making the areas hotbeds for the virus to spread.
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In the south zone, where majority of the cases are concentrated, multiple communities show vaccination rates well below 50 per cent in 2024, including County of Forty Mile (30.2 per cent), Municipality of Taber (39.1 per cent), Lethbridge (46.7 per cent).
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In the central zone, Two Hills Country reports a paltry vaccination rate of 24 per cent.
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Experts say, to ensure community immunity against the virus, atleast 95 per cent of the community must be vaccinated.
A spokesperson for Alberta Health last week said that the province had initiated a 'boosted social media campaign encouraging Albertans to check and update their vaccination records'. It ran until early May until it transitioned to the new 'Don't Get Measles. Get Immunized.' campaign.
'The 'Don't Get Measles. Get Immunized.' campaign launched on social media, sharing advertorials encouraging Albertans to get vaccinated via radio, print, digital and social media advertising.
The campaign also includes an information toolkit for daycare and childcare facility operators. Online ads can be read in English, French, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Tagalog and radio ads in English, Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Farsi, Somali, Vietnamese, and Low German.
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