Person with measles flew into Calgary airport before travelling to Taber, AHS warns

Alberta Health Services says a case of measles has been confirmed in a visitor to the Taber area in the southeastern part of the province, and the person has been in public settings while infectious, including the Calgary airport.

"Measles is an extremely contagious disease and is spread easily through the air," AHS said in a release Tuesday afternoon.

The visitor is an Ontario resident who acquired measles in Ontario, according to an Alberta Health spokesperson.

Health officials are warning that people may have been exposed to measles if they were in any of these locations at these specified times:

March 8, 2025:

• Flair Airlines Flight No. F8629, from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Calgary International Airport.
• Exposure time period: 9:12 p.m. (Eastern Time) to 11:57 p.m. (Mountain Time).

March 8 - 9, 2025:

• Calgary International Airport and Budget Car and Truck Rental, Calgary International Airport, 2000 Airport Road N.E., Calgary.
• Exposure time period: 11:55 p.m., March 8 to 2 a.m., March 9.

 March 11, 2025:

• Taber Health Centre Emergency Department, 4326 50th Avenue, Taber, Alta.
• Exposure time period: Approx. 5:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

March 11, 2025

• Taber Shoppers Drug Mart, 5800 46th Avenue, Taber, Alta.
• Exposure time period: Approx. 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m.

March 12 - 13, 2025

• Taber Health Centre Emergency Department, 4326 50th Avenue, Taber, Alta.
• Exposure time period: Approx. 10:15 p.m., March 12 to 10:50 a.m., March 13.

Anyone present in any of these locations at these times who was born in or after 1970 and has fewer than two documented doses of measles vaccine is at risk of developing measles, public health officials warn.

Officials strongly recommend self-monitoring for symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• Fever of 38.3 C or higher.
• Cough, runny nose and/or red eyes.
• A red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down the body and then to the arms and legs.

"If symptoms of measles do develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call Health Link at 811 before visiting any health-care facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy," AHS said in the release.

"Measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and complications," the release added.

People who have received fewer than two doses of measles vaccine and are pregnant or have a weakened immune system are at most risk of complications from measles. Babies under the age of one year are also vulnerable.

Anyone in these at-risk groups is advised by AHS to quickly contact Health Link if exposed to measles. Exposed individuals may be eligible for vaccine or immune globulin to reduce the risk of developing measles. 

Measles vaccine is offered for free through Alberta's publicly funded immunization program. Children typically receive their first dose at 12 months of age and their second dose at 18 months of age.

Children in the Taber area have lower childhood immunization rates than the rest of the province, particularly among those under the age of two, according to provincial data.

Albertans who are uncertain of their immunization history or their child's immunization history can text "vaccine record" to 88111, call Health Link at 811 or contact their local public health office to find that information.

You can also text "measles" to 88111 to get health information about the disease texted to your mobile device.