The province is experiencing a resurgence of measles, and doctors say Albertans need to know the situation is not under control.
Over the weekend, 36 new cases were reported, with 28 of them in the south zone alone. In addition, four were reported in the Edmonton zone, two in the Calgary zone and two in the north zone.
No cases were reported on Tuesday.
While weekly case counts are still far below last year’s peak, they are firmly trending up.
“I’m very concerned. We’re now a year into when the outbreak was first declared in Alberta and we have been seeing an increase in cases over the last few weeks,” said Dr. Karina Top, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.
“I’m particularly concerned that we’re seeing cases across the province and then these sort of larger clusters that have come up a few times since the start of the year.”
There have also been recent advisories issued about exposures at the Stollery and University of Alberta Hospital and other health facilities, she said, putting vulnerable people at risk and potentially opening the door to further spread.
Alberta’s measles dashboard shows 159 cases have been confirmed so far in 2026. That’s in addition to 2,009 reported last year.
As of Monday, eight people were hospitalized due to the highly contagious illness.
And standing exposure advisories remain in effect for the south zone, parts of the north zone and Parkland County, according to the province’s website.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications including pneumonia, brain inflammation, premature delivery and even death.
“The situation is not under control,” said Dr. James Talbot, a former chief medical officer of health for Alberta.
“The recent numbers in Alberta show that Canada isn’t going to get measles elimination status any time soon.”
Alberta and Manitoba account for the vast majority of cases so far this year.
The latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows as of the end of February, Alberta had 103 confirmed cases, accounting for one quarter of the nation’s 413 cases.
With 269 cases, Manitoba, which is the hardest hit, accounts for 65 per cent of Canada’s cases this year.
The other provinces have far lower measles case counts.
“Both our neighboring provinces are doing a much better job of keeping this under control,” said Talbot, who is also an adjunct professor in the school of public health at the University of Alberta.
The most recent numbers show Saskatchewan has reported five cases this year, and B.C. has reported 18.
Surge ‘not unexpected,’ government says
CBC News requested an interview with Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Vivien Suttorp, about the measles upswing but was told she was not available on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Alberta government said the jump in cases is “not unexpected,” given ongoing measles activity in the province.
“While there has been an increase in cases over the past few days, most new cases reflect transmission within a small number of families and groups, not widespread community transmission, and primarily in communities with previously reported cases,” said Maddison McKee, press secretary to the minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, in an emailed statement.
“Measles is a highly contagious illness, and unfortunately, the United States, Manitoba, and other jurisdictions are seeing a rapid increase in cases this year.”
According to McKee, health officials continue to use targeted vaccination campaigns, expanded clinic hours and province-wide outreach in an effort to boost immunization and limit further spread.
An ad campaign in more than 14 languages has also been extended until the end of March.
McKee also pointed to data showing a 36 per cent increase in measles vaccines given out since mid-March of last year.
“In the south and north zones, where historical uptake has been lower, vaccinations rose by 64 per cent and 54 per cent, respectively,” she said.
Alberta’s tactics ‘not working’
Talbot is pushing back against the provincial government’s focus on this data.
“The government can cite whatever they want around the shots on goal or the save percentage. But what counts is the score. And the score is that we’re the second worst jurisdiction in the country in terms of numbers of cases and that only one province is worse than us,” he said.
“The correct number [to cite] is how close are we to 95 per cent, which is what is required for herd immunity.”
Craig Jenne, deputy director of the University of Calgary’s Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases is also worried about vaccination.
“We still have, in general, an undervaccinated population. We have large areas of the province where herd immunity is not achieved which means the virus will continue to spread,” he said.
“What is currently being done is not working.”
Jenne said the province needs to consider other strategies to increase vaccination rates.
“If we don’t then we will just have to accept that measles will continue to circulate here. Our friends and neighbours, who may be at significant risk of the disease, will have a very different lifestyle than they did a year and a half ago where they could go into the community and know they were protected.”
Talbot agrees.
“Other provinces, for instance Ontario, have a requirement for immunization status of kids before they go to school. They’ve been successful and, in many ways, they resemble Alberta as a population,” said Talbot.
“It’s something that’s worth discussing.”
The Alberta government said measles transmission has occurred primarily in smaller communities with historically lower vaccination rates and that there has been no “significant spread” in most of the province including the larger cities.
While the province insists it is working to ensure Albertans have timely access to measles information, all three experts interviewed by CBC News said stronger messaging is needed.
“It’s disconcerting that we’re not seeing strong leadership and communication from government leaders and public health leaders directly to the public to make them aware of this risk and help inform them of how they can protect themselves and reduce their risk of getting measles,” said Top.
Talbot said parents need to be told that measles continues to be a threat and to ensure their kids are immunized while also keeping them home from school if they have a rash.
