Calgary Measles Alert Issued After Possible Exposure
A new Calgary measles alert is urging residents to watch for symptoms after Alberta Health warned that some people may have been exposed to measles at two major health-care locations in the city.
The public alert, issued on May 25, 2026, says individuals who were at the Foothills Medical Centre Emergency Department and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Emergency Department during specific time periods may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. Alberta Health listed the Foothills exposure window as May 21, 2026, from 2:29 a.m. to 5:37 a.m. MST and the Alberta Children’s Hospital exposure windows as May 21 from 3:43 a.m. to 12:34 p.m. MST and May 22 from 5:32 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. MST.
Who May Be at Risk?
According to Alberta Health, anyone who attended those locations during the listed times and was born in or after 1970 may be at risk if they have fewer than two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine or have never had measles disease. Those individuals are being encouraged to monitor for symptoms and review their immunization records.
This warning is especially important because measles can spread before a person realizes they are infected. Alberta Health Services says people with measles can spread the infection starting four days before the rash appears and continuing until four days after the rash appears.
Symptoms Calgary Residents Should Watch For
The Calgary measles alert asks residents to watch closely for signs of illness after possible exposure. Alberta Health says symptoms include a fever of 38.3°C or higher, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a blotchy rash that usually appears three to seven days after fever begins. The rash often starts behind the ears and on the face before spreading to the body, arms, and legs.
On darker skin tones, the rash may appear purple or darker than the surrounding skin, or it may be harder to see. This detail matters because early recognition can help prevent further spread.
What to Do If Symptoms Appear
Residents who develop symptoms after possible exposure should stay home and call the Measles Hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any health-care facility, doctor’s office, clinic, or pharmacy. Alberta Health specifically advises people not to show up in person without calling ahead, because measles spreads very easily in shared indoor spaces.
Alberta Health Services also advises people with symptoms to call Health Link at 811 before visiting any health-care provider. People may be asked to wait in their vehicle until a safe space is available for assessment.
Why Measles Spreads So Easily
Measles is one of the most contagious viral infections. Alberta’s measles guidance says it spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, yells, or sings. A person can be exposed simply by passing through a room where an infected person was present up to two hours earlier.
That is why exposure alerts are taken seriously. A single measles case in a busy emergency department can potentially affect many people, including infants, pregnant people, immunocompromised individuals, health-care workers, and patients already dealing with other medical issues.
Vaccination Remains the Best Protection
Alberta Health says measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and complications. In Alberta, measles-containing vaccine is offered free of charge through the publicly funded immunization program, with the recommended routine schedule calling for two doses: the first at one year of age and the second at 18 months.
The province’s measles page says children who receive two doses are considered protected. Adults born in 1970 or later are considered protected if they have two lifetime doses of measles-containing vaccine, lab-confirmed measles disease, or serological evidence of immunity.
What If Someone Was Exposed but Not Protected?
People who think they were exposed and are not protected may still have options. Alberta Health says a dose of vaccine must be given within 72 hours of exposure to help prevent measles. Babies under one year of age, pregnant people, and those with severely weakened immune systems may be eligible for immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to help prevent disease.
Anyone unsure about their vaccination history can call the measles hotline. Albertans aged 14 and older can also check immunization records through My Health Record, and residents can text “Measles” to 88111 for health information by text.
Alberta Continues to Monitor Measles Activity
The alert comes as Alberta continues to deal with measles activity across the province. Alberta Health’s measles page says outbreaks are occurring in Alberta and globally, and everyone in the province, including visitors, is encouraged to review immunization status and take steps to stay protected.
Alberta Health Services has also noted ongoing transmission across Alberta, with recent cases reported in multiple regions and standing exposure advisories in some areas.
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