Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed concern over Canada losing its measles elimination status, emphasizing the challenges in controlling the highly contagious disease due to free movement between provinces and countries. Smith highlighted the importance of vigilance to prevent the spread of measles, emphasizing transparency in reporting outbreaks on the government’s website.
Alberta and Ontario have seen a significant number of measles cases this year, with Alberta reporting nearly 2,000 cases since March. The province also recorded its first measles-related death when an infant passed away due to the mother contracting the disease during pregnancy.
The Pan American Health Organization recently revoked Canada’s measles elimination status after cases of the same strain circulated for over a year. To regain the status, Canada must demonstrate no transmission of the strain for a full year.
Smith credited Alberta’s vaccine campaign for slowing the spread of measles, particularly in communities with lower vaccination rates like the Mennonite and Hutterite communities. She emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing the devastating impacts of measles, especially on young children.
Opposition NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman criticized the government for not appointing a permanent chief medical officer of health earlier, highlighting the need for public health officials to provide essential information to the public. Hoffman also raised concerns about tuberculosis awareness, noting a recent outbreak in Edmonton and emphasizing the government’s role in promoting immunization and public health information dissemination.