Alberta Hospitals Impose Visitor Curbs Amid Worst Measles Outbreak

Alberta is currently facing its worst measles outbreak on record, with 1,538 cases reported so far this year. In response, the Alberta Health Services (AHS) has announced the implementation of visitor restrictions at select hospital sites across the province.

The restrictions will be applied to high-risk units, including neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, pediatric hospitals, labor and delivery, postpartum, oncology, and other inpatient and outpatient areas. The decision to impose these measures will be made by individual healthcare facilities based on factors such as patient risk, unit layout, and staffing considerations.

AHS spokesperson Kristi Bland stated that the restrictions are a precautionary measure against the risk posed by visitors traveling from areas with "substantial measles circulation." However, she clarified that the move is not a response to increased transmission within the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary.

Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease that can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room. The virus can cause serious complications, including diarrhea, pneumonia, fever, and in severe cases, encephalitis and death.

As the measles outbreak continues to grow in Alberta, the health authority has issued numerous public alerts for potential exposures at various healthcare facilities across the province, including the Alberta Children's Hospital, South Health Campus, and the University of Alberta hospitals.