Alberta Health has issued a public exposure alert after a confirmed measles case visited two Calgary hospital emergency departments earlier this month.
If you were at either location during the windows below, you may have been exposed.
Foothills Medical Centre Emergency Department 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary May 21, 2026 — 2:29 a.m. to 5:37 a.m. MST
Alberta Children's Hospital Emergency Department 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary May 21, 2026 — 3:43 a.m. to 12:34 p.m. MST May 22, 2026 — 5:32 p.m. to 6:25 p.m. MST
Who is at risk
Not everyone who was in those locations needs to be concerned. You may be at risk if you were born in or after 1970 and have fewer than two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or have never had measles disease.
People born before 1970 are generally considered immune due to likely natural exposure. People with two documented vaccine doses are well protected measles vaccine is highly effective.
If you fall into the at-risk group, Alberta Health is asking you to monitor for symptoms and review your immunization records. If you develop symptoms, do not go directly to a hospital, clinic, or pharmacy. Call the measles hotline first at 1-844-944-3434.
What measles symptoms look like
Measles doesn't start with a rash. It starts with a high fever of 38.3°C or higher, combined with cough, runny nose, and red eyes. That combination can be easy to dismiss as a bad cold or flu.
The rash comes 3 to 7 days after the fever begins. It typically starts behind the ears and on the face, then spreads down the body to the arms and legs. On lighter skin it appears red and blotchy. On darker skin it can appear purple, darker than the surrounding skin, or may be difficult to see altogether.
Measles is extremely contagious the virus travels through the air and can linger in a room for up to two hours after an infected person has left. A single case in an unprotected population spreads fast.
Your options if you were exposed
If you were at one of the listed locations during the exposure windows and are not protected, time matters.
A dose of measles vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure can prevent infection. If you are a baby under one year of age, are pregnant, or have a severely weakened immune system, a different treatment called immunoglobulin may be available within six days of exposure.
Call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 to find out what applies to your situation. Alberta's measles vaccine is free through the publicly funded immunization program.
How to check your vaccination history
If you're not sure whether you've had two doses, you have a few options. Albertans 14 and older can check their immunization records through My Health Record at myhealth.alberta.ca/myhealthrecords. You can also text the word "Measles" to 88111 to receive measles health information by text message. Or call the hotline directly.
The recommended schedule for measles immunization in Alberta is two doses the first at one year of age, the second at 18 months. If you or your child is behind on either dose, now is a straightforward time to address it.
For ongoing updates on measles in Alberta, visit alberta.ca/measles.
Sources:
Government of Alberta — Public alert for measles exposure, May 25, 2026 (alberta.ca)
