Rampant measles spread in northern Alberta prompts another standing exposure advisory [Video]

Measles has been spreading rampantly across parts of Alberta all spring and now, the province’s health authority has issued a second standing measles exposure advisory.

The idea is that people in certain communities should assume they are at risk of catching the most contagious disease in the world at any time.

Measles, known for its characteristic red rash, is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet, with an R number of 12 to 18 — meaning one infected person can spread it to up to 18 others in an unvaccinated population.

To put that in perspective, COVID-19’s original strain had an R number of about two to three, and even highly transmissible variants like Omicron rarely exceeded 10.

Once declared eradicated in Canada in 1998, measles has made a comeback, spreading rapidly in recent months due to declining vaccination rates.

The Alberta Health Services (AHS) north zone is the least-vaccinated region in the province, …