Measles

Learn about measles and how to protect yourself and your family.

Overview

Measles outbreaks are occurring in Canada, including Alberta. These outbreaks are highly preventable.

Measles can be spread over times of high travel (like spring break). If you are unimmunized and travelling or returning from travel, be aware of areas where measles is currently spreading. To see if you may have been exposed to measles in Alberta, see information on exposure locations and dates.

Albertans can protect themselves and those around them by ensuring their measles immunizations are up-to-date.

Measles containing vaccines are provided free of charge for eligible populations through Alberta Health Services public health centres.

Measles cases in Alberta

Table 1. Diagnosed measles cases past their period of communicability* as of April 22, 2025

Cases past period of communicability106
Known to be communicable (active)12
Total cases118

* Period of communicability (the time the person can transmit measles to another person).

Notes:

  • This does not reflect risk in the community as there may be people with undiagnosed measles, nor does it reflect the number of persons who have been exposed to measles.
  • This estimated number is used for public reporting purposes only. Public health will determine period of communicability for individual measles cases for the purposes of contact management.

Table 2. Confirmed cases as of 12 pm, April 22, 2025

ZoneNew casesTotal cases
North717
Edmonton15
Central1160
Calgary05
South1031
Total29118

Table 3. Cases by age group as of 12 pm, April 22, 2025

Age groupCount
<5 years30
5 to 17 years71
18 to 54 years16
55 years and older1
Total118

Weekly reporting

As of April 12, 2025, a total of 73 confirmed measles cases were reported to Alberta Health.

Figure 1. Number of confirmed measles cases by week of reporting, 2025


To be updated each Thursday (if >5 cases identified)
Chart data table
Week Cases
‌2025-03-09 7
2025-03-16 10
2025-03-23 5
2025-03-30 13
2025-04-06 38

Source: Government of Alberta

Accessible chart description

Table 4. Hospital admissions among confirmed measles cases as of April 12, 2025

HospitalizationCount
Yes8
No65
Unknown0
Total73

Table 5. Immunization status of confirmed measles cases as of April 12, 2025

Immunization status1Count
Unimmunized65
1 dose6
2 or more doses1
Unknown1
Total73

1Information on who is considered protected can be found in the Prevention of measles section.

Figure 2a. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Alberta

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 2642 2288 1628
Jan 5 3369 2496 2663
Jan 12 3616 2780 2893
Jan 19 3326 2957 2727
Jan 26 3734 3318 2913
Feb 2 3858 3303 2589
Feb 9 3589 2893 2722
Feb 16 3252 2994 2519
Feb 23 4521 3656 3434
Mar 2 4004 3820 3412
Mar 9 3949 4208 3864
Mar 16 3905 3899 5786
Mar 23 3990 3474 6091
Mar 30 2955 3155 5059
Apr 6 3565 3715 5506
Apr 13 3825 3585
Apr 20 4029 3861
Apr 27 3816 3424
May 4 3847 2459
May 11 3510 2575
May 18 3324 2548
May 25 3688 3060
Jun 1 3905 3406
Jun 8 3616 3041
Jun 15 3583 3085
Jun 22 2788 2675
Jun 29 2682 2350
Jul 6 2939 2605
Jul 13 3259 2833
Jul 20 3039 2578
Jul 27 2675 2354
Aug 3 2588 2061
Aug 10 3260 2727
Aug 17 3314 2636
Aug 24 2922 2467
Aug 31 2511 2207
Sep 7 3240 2719
Sep 14 2844 2616
Sep 21 2921 2547
Sep 28 2409 2170
Oct 5 2751 2646
Oct 12 2863 2364
Oct 19 3183 2707
Oct 26 2734 2776
Nov 2 3022 2882
Nov 9 2571 2419
Nov 16 3273 2931
Nov 23 3218 2675
Nov 30 3196 2933
Dec 7 2922 2776
Dec 14 2503 2586
Dec 21 1262 878

Source: Government of Alberta

Accessible chart description

Line chart showing...

Figure 2b. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Calgary

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 1065 913 706
Jan 5 1275 948 1070
Jan 12 1481 1161 1205
Jan 19 1289 1052 1070
Jan 26 1627 1537 1180
Feb 2 1631 1467 1040
Feb 9 1503 1163 1119
Feb 16 1530 1352 1107
Feb 23 2155 1665 1595
Mar 2 1857 1626 1548
Mar 9 1740 1737 1739
Mar 16 1669 1555 2033
Mar 23 1697 1324 2118
Mar 30 1214 1215 1839
Apr 6 1580 1453 2054
Apr 13 1579 1374
Apr 20 1725 1474
Apr 27 1602 1227
May 4 1647 804
May 11 1457 886
May 18 1436 1052
May 25 1493 1112
Jun 1 1809 1343
Jun 8 1563 1290
Jun 15 1598 1223
Jun 22 1045 1029
Jun 29 1121 872
Jul 6 1042 948
Jul 13 1315 1157
Jul 20 1156 1090
Jul 27 1058 898
Aug 3 982 765
Aug 10 1236 1182
Aug 17 1200 1050
Aug 24 1002 890
Aug 31 987 893
Sep 7 1254 1088
Sep 14 1131 993
Sep 21 1015 926
Sep 28 945 923
Oct 5 1100 988
Oct 12 1090 1031
Oct 19 1279 1108
Oct 26 1023 1058
Nov 2 1083 1150
Nov 9 952 1012
Nov 16 1260 1220
Nov 23 1216 933
Nov 30 1337 1176
Dec 7 1111 1115
Dec 14 947 1082
Dec 21 410 385

Source: Government of Alberta

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Line chart of...

Figure 2c. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Edmonton

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 898 828 580
Jan 5 1135 914 927
Jan 12 1161 999 980
Jan 19 1144 1123 941
Jan 26 1215 1095 1005
Feb 2 1313 1123 910
Feb 9 1196 1040 973
Feb 16 970 977 826
Feb 23 1440 1227 1029
Mar 2 1274 1323 1127
Mar 9 1253 1467 1113
Mar 16 1246 1330 1584
Mar 23 1335 1261 1929
Mar 30 1039 1192 1675
Apr 6 1138 1299 1628
Apr 13 1254 1323
Apr 20 1326 1457
Apr 27 1305 1336
May 4 1324 1075
May 11 1194 1096
May 18 1126 932
May 25 1290 1205
Jun 1 1235 1235
Jun 8 1240 1105
Jun 15 1160 1110
Jun 22 1031 911
Jun 29 948 900
Jul 6 1130 987
Jul 13 1231 971
Jul 20 1180 931
Jul 27 1024 884
Aug 3 975 776
Aug 10 1232 934
Aug 17 1274 932
Aug 24 1146 950
Aug 31 926 780
Sep 7 1138 972
Sep 14 1037 955
Sep 21 1095 954
Sep 28 821 707
Oct 5 974 1014
Oct 12 1143 846
Oct 19 1206 991
Oct 26 1066 1055
Nov 2 1177 1064
Nov 9 971 800
Nov 16 1224 1043
Nov 23 1297 1081
Nov 30 1131 1089
Dec 7 1102 1059
Dec 14 920 877
Dec 21 584 354

Source: Government of Alberta

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Figure 2d. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for Central

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 221 206 99
Jan 5 276 205 205
Jan 12 295 215 240
Jan 19 301 253 221
Jan 26 304 262 261
Feb 2 286 266 220
Feb 9 298 233 216
Feb 16 255 191 189
Feb 23 296 265 261
Mar 2 345 354 241
Mar 9 336 334 292
Mar 16 339 370 573
Mar 23 354 274 671
Mar 30 238 286 532
Apr 6 306 369 731
Apr 13 331 332
Apr 20 314 376
Apr 27 299 277
May 4 258 231
May 11 298 209
May 18 258 170
May 25 297 245
Jun 1 324 291
Jun 8 251 229
Jun 15 290 249
Jun 22 222 219
Jun 29 193 209
Jul 6 241 197
Jul 13 250 226
Jul 20 257 195
Jul 27 201 205
Aug 3 197 177
Aug 10 247 192
Aug 17 242 194
Aug 24 231 191
Aug 31 191 188
Sep 7 278 192
Sep 14 214 210
Sep 21 242 202
Sep 28 198 171
Oct 5 237 200
Oct 12 197 151
Oct 19 253 201
Oct 26 233 221
Nov 2 258 222
Nov 9 220 181
Nov 16 256 220
Nov 23 234 220
Nov 30 274 235
Dec 7 238 215
Dec 14 184 206
Dec 21 85 41

Source: Government of Alberta

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Line chart of...

Figure 2e. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for North

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 237 204 145
Jan 5 406 255 262
Jan 12 392 299 278
Jan 19 336 347 286
Jan 26 312 259 289
Feb 2 359 281 241
Feb 9 327 315 248
Feb 16 289 296 243
Feb 23 356 320 329
Mar 2 347 342 302
Mar 9 384 433 564
Mar 16 379 379 1211
Mar 23 375 365 882
Mar 30 263 261 596
Apr 6 346 370 600
Apr 13 426 325
Apr 20 416 334
Apr 27 336 394
May 4 375 225
May 11 321 222
May 18 327 228
May 25 350 297
Jun 1 366 333
Jun 8 335 266
Jun 15 317 267
Jun 22 272 309
Jun 29 255 226
Jul 6 318 273
Jul 13 268 283
Jul 20 256 244
Jul 27 222 218
Aug 3 255 200
Aug 10 334 240
Aug 17 334 256
Aug 24 323 225
Aug 31 223 193
Sep 7 317 246
Sep 14 284 292
Sep 21 333 270
Sep 28 249 197
Oct 5 263 270
Oct 12 285 191
Oct 19 305 266
Oct 26 253 260
Nov 2 279 272
Nov 9 234 244
Nov 16 297 271
Nov 23 302 241
Nov 30 268 258
Dec 7 293 253
Dec 14 238 232
Dec 21 117 53

Source: Government of Alberta

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Line chart of...

Figure 2f. Measles containing immunization doses administered by week and geography, 2023-2025 for South

Chart data table
Week 2023 2024 2025
Dec ‌29 217 133 91
Jan 5 269 163 188
Jan 12 283 99 183
Jan 19 253 171 198
Jan 26 271 158 170
Feb 2 263 162 171
Feb 9 264 140 165
Feb 16 198 173 142
Feb 23 264 173 212
Mar 2 178 166 178
Mar 9 229 226 142
Mar 16 267 249 365
Mar 23 223 237 461
Mar 30 194 192 404
Apr 6 193 216 472
Apr 13 231 225
Apr 20 244 210
Apr 27 271 182
May 4 239 118
May 11 233 153
May 18 174 158
May 25 252 193
Jun 1 166 197
Jun 8 223 138
Jun 15 213 225
Jun 22 211 201
Jun 29 160 138
Jul 6 199 190
Jul 13 189 186
Jul 20 184 114
Jul 27 167 143
Aug 3 175 138
Aug 10 209 169
Aug 17 253 189
Aug 24 216 202
Aug 31 181 148
Sep 7 247 212
Sep 14 168 151
Sep 21 231 171
Sep 28 192 165
Oct 5 171 159
Oct 12 144 131
Oct 19 135 131
Oct 26 152 171
Nov 2 222 159
Nov 9 189 171
Nov 16 229 163
Nov 23 162 186
Nov 30 179 163
Dec 7 173 122
Dec 14 205 178
Dec 21 63 42

Source: Government of Alberta

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Line chart of...

Notes for Figure 2a-f:

  • Excludes measles immunoglobulin administered as post-exposure prophylaxis
  • Includes null doses administered to children < 12 months of age

About measles

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that is spread easily through the air. The best protection against measles is to ensure you are up to date with your immunizations.

Measles cases are increasing globally, with numerous countries and travel destinations reporting outbreaks including Canada, the United States and Europe.

Measles is a virus that spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Measles is sometimes called rubeola or red measles.

Measles symptoms include:

  • a fever
  • a cough
  • a runny nose
  • red eyes
  • a blotchy, red rash that appears 3 to 7 days after the fever starts. In darker skin colours, the redness may be harder to see or may appear purple or darker than surrounding skin. It typically begins behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and to the arms and legs.

Measles can be dangerous because:

  • 1 in 10 people with measles will get middle ear or lung infections
  • 1 in 1,000 people with measles will get encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to seizures, deafness, or brain damage
  • 1 to 3 of every 1,000 people with measles will die

Who is most at risk

You are at risk of being in contact with measles if you are exposed to an infected person, or if you travel to areas within or outside of Canada where measles is spreading. If you have not had confirmed measles in the past or if you have not been fully immunized against it and you come into contact with the virus, you are at risk of getting measles. Over 90% of people who are not immune to measles and who come into contact with the virus will become infected.

Those at highest risk of severe complications from measles include:

  • children less than 5 years of age
  • people with weakened immune systems
  • people who are pregnant

How measles spreads

Measles is an extremely contagious disease, spread easily through the air.

You do not need to be in direct contact with someone who is infected. You can get measles just by passing through a room or location where a person who is infected was up to 2 hours before. The person who is infected does not still need to be there to put you at risk of disease.

Measles can also be spread through coughing, sneezing, yelling, singing and breathing.

If you have measles, you can spread the disease before you show any symptoms. Measles can spread starting 4 days before the rash appears until 4 days after the rash appears.

Who is protected

Children in Alberta typically receive their first dose of measles containing vaccine at 12 months of age, and their second dose at 18 months of age. Children who received 2 doses of vaccine are considered protected.

Adults born in 1970 or later with a documented history of 2 life-time doses of measles containing vaccine spaced at least 4 weeks apart, or those who have a history of lab confirmed disease or serological evidence of measles immunity are considered protected.

Adults born before 1970 are generally considered immune to measles, as measles circulated widely before 1970. One or 2 doses of the vaccine may be recommended if you are a healthcare worker, student at a post-secondary educational institution or are traveling to areas within or outside of Canada where measles is spreading.

Prevention of measles

Immunization information

Further outbreaks are preventable. The measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and complications from disease. Albertans can protect themselves, their loved ones and people around them by ensuring their measles immunizations are up-to-date.

Albertans can check their immunization records to confirm they have received the recommended doses of the measles-containing vaccine.

Alberta’s measles-containing vaccine eligibility is outlined in the table below. If you are traveling outside of your city or the province, see the table under the Travel advice section.

Table 6. Age and vaccine recommendation within Alberta

Age cohortVaccine recommendations
Infants 6 months up to and including 11 months of age living in Area 1 or Area 8 of North Zone, Central and South Zones.1 dose of MMR vaccine
Children 12 months up to and including 17 years of ageRoutine schedule is 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine at 12 and 18 months of age, though 2 doses can be offered at least 4 weeks apart at any age in this cohort
Adults born in 1970 or later2 lifetime doses of measles-containing vaccine at least 4 weeks apart
Healthcare workers regardless of age2 lifetime doses of measles-containing vaccine at least 4 weeks apart
Students at post-secondary educational institutions born before 19701 lifetime dose
Other adults born before 1970Generally not recommended however if an adult lives in Area 1 or Area 8 of North Zone and Central and South Zones and has no documented history of 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, no history of laboratory-confirmed measles disease and no laboratory evidence of measles immunity, consider 1 dose.

The measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and complications. It has a long-proven track record of safety. After just one dose of measles-containing vaccine, protection is about 85% to 95% for measles, and after 2 doses, protection is almost 100%. Learn more about effectiveness, safety and side effects.

Measles containing vaccines are provided free of charge for eligible populations. To see if you are eligible to get the vaccine, you can call the Immunization Booking Line at 811 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. if you live in the Calgary or Edmonton Zone. If you live in another zone in Alberta, contact your local public health or community health centre.

If you have any questions about measles or immunizations, contact your primary care provider such as your doctor, pharmacist, midwife, nurse practitioner, or public health nurse.

If you do not know you or your child’s immunization history, text "vaccine record" to 88111, call Health Link at 811, or call your local public health or community health centre for assistance.

  • Albertans 14 years of age and older can check their immunization history using myhealthrecords.

Routine childhood and school immunization coverage in Alberta can be found on the Interactive Health Data Application (IHDA) and visualized on the Alberta childhood immunization coverage dashboard.

Prevent the spread

There are things you can do to prevent getting sick and to protect others:

  • Get your measles immunizations.
  • Stay home when feeling sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Call Health Link at 811 before visiting any hospital, clinic or healthcare provider.

If you think you have been exposed to measles

  • If you think you or your child has been exposed to measles, call Health Link at 811 before visiting any healthcare provider, clinic, or hospital. The registered nurse who answers your call will guide you on the next steps.
  • If you are not protected against measles and you are in contact with a measles case, you will be required to stay home for a period of time starting 5 days after the first exposure to the case to 21 days after the last exposure to the case. It is important to monitor yourself for symptoms during this time.
  • If you have contact with the measles virus, are not immunized and are at risk for serious illness, you may be offered immune globulin. Immune globulin can help prevent measles or prevent you from getting seriously sick if you do get measles.
  • Immune globulins give quick, short-term protection. For long-term protection, immunization is needed.

Travel advice

Measles can be spread over times of high travel (like spring break). If you are unimmunized and travelling or returning from travel, be aware of areas where measles is currently spreading.

If you or a loved one is traveling to any country outside of Canada or to or through the areas listed below where measles is spreading in Canada, consult table 6 for vaccine eligibility. This table will be updated as needed.

Areas where measles is currently spreading in Canada include:

Alberta

Ontario

  • Southwestern Ontario region (#1 on this Ontario regional map) – including but not limited to Norfolk County, Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas.

Table 7. Age and vaccine recommendation for travel

Age cohortVaccine recommendations
Infants 6 up to and including 11 months of age1 dose of MMR vaccine
Children 12 months up to and including 17 years of age2 doses of measles-containing vaccine at least 4 weeks apart and after turning 1 year of age
Adults born in 1970 or later2 lifetime doses of measles-containing vaccine at least 4 weeks apart
Adults born before 1970 with no documented history of 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, no history of laboratory-confirmed measles disease and no laboratory evidence of measles immunity1 lifetime dose of measles-containing vaccine

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