As Calgary stampede begins, health experts warn about the risk of measles exposure and urges parents with non -immunized babies and children, along with other vulnerable albertans, to sit.
The stampede attracts travelers from all over Alberta and around the world. This year, the organizers expect more than 1.3 million people to attend.
This annual event arrives at a time when the province is fighting against its worst measles outbreaks in almost half a century. Until Thursday at noon, 1,179 cases had been reported since the shoots began in March.
“That is many people for 10 days in a concentrated area and that is where the risk factor is,” said Dr. Sam Wong, president of the Pediatrics Section of the Alberta Medical Association.
“If I had a baby son, I would be avoiding Stampede and any great meeting like that because I would like to protect my son as much as possible.”
Measles can lead to a series of serious complications that include pneumonia, cerebral inflammation, premature delivery and even death.
Young children, pregnant people and immunocompromised people have a higher risk of serious complications.
And until babies are old enough to be vaccinated, they are extremely vulnerable.
“I grew up in Calgary. I am a great admirer of the stampede,” Wong said. “But there are risks associated with him this year.”
A premature baby that was born infected with measles He recently died in Ontario. A small child in that province also died due to measles last year.
The Alberta Routine Child Immunization Program recommends that babies obtain their first dose of measles vaccine at 12 months and their second chance at 18 months.
Due to the outbreaks, the province offers an early and extra dose to babies up to six months of age that live in southern, central and north areas.
Craig Jenne of the University of Calgary is also worried about adults and children who are not vaccinated or have a single dose. The vast majority of Alberta measles cases have been among non -immunized.
“We know, simply statistically, that measles will be present in the fields of Stampede,” said Jenne, a professor of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University.
People who travel to Calgary from parts of the province with outbreaks, including the toughest blow to the south, north and central areas, could bring the virus with them, he said.
“We are still seeing daily exhibitions in multiple health areas in the province. Therefore, measles is still freely transmitted.”
Highly transmissible measles
Measles is a highly contagious air disease and can spread both indoors and outdoors, Jenne said.
“When we think of the crowds in Stampede, people are very together and the measles virus is very infectious. Therefore, we know that this is the type of environment in which … a virus such as measles can spread very easily.”
The measles virus can hang in the air up to two hours after a person has left a space. And people can spread the disease before having symptoms.
“If someone with measles enters an inner space and enters a building or pavilion and then leaves, the virus could be in the air for hours after that person was there, so potentially exposes people who enter even much later in the day, the virus,” Jenne said.
“If you are not vaccinated and in a risk group, these great meetings can represent a risk of exposure that we really need people to avoid.”
Other meetings, such as Edmonton K-Days, scheduled for later in July, are also a concern because they also attract great crowds, he said.
Dr. Karina Top, a doctor of pediatric infectious diseases in the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, also urges lodges and people with vulnerable babies to stay away from large meetings.
“I am quite worried about the potential for the propagation of measles in this type of event,” he said.
“If the risk was not high, I would not suggest that people stay at home. But it is. And I really don’t want anyone to confer yourself severely by enjoying Stampede.”
He is also worried that Stampede could trigger more outbreaks in the province, even in Calgary, which has so far experienced low cases of cases.
Since the outbreaks began in March, 24 measles cases have been reported in the Calgary area and there have been 10 in the Edmonton area.
Health officials recognize the risk
The province said he continues to encourage all Albertaos to verify their immunization records and make sure they and their children are updated.
“We recognize that great events such as Calgary stampede could increase the risk of exposure to respiratory viruses, including measles, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely,” said an official with primary and preventive health services in a statement sent by email to CBC News.
“We continue to recommend that anyone who attends great meetings, such as stamping, guarantees that their immunizations are updated, practice good hands and stay at home if you feel bad.”
Knowing the risks is key, according to the health official.
“People who cannot be immunized and have a greater risk of serious measles complications, such as pregnant people, children under five years old and those who are immunocompromised, should be aware that large meetings can increase the risk of exposure,” the statement said.
“It is important that these people carefully consider potential risks and make informed decisions about assistance based on their personal circumstances and comfort with the level of risk.”
The campaign of awareness on the measles of the province, “is not taken out, is immunize,” said the spokesman, said the case counts and exposure notifications are updated regularly on the Alberta measles website.
In addition, the province indicated a measles and community events Orientation document for organizations, personal, volunteers and assistants.
CBC News asked if signals would be published on Stampede land that warns of Alberta’s measles outbreaks.
Stampede officials did not answer that question, and the province said no additional council had been provided on the publication signals.
“We encourage guests to follow the guidance of public health authorities,” said a spokesman for Calgary Stampede in an email. “If you feel bad, we kindly ask you to stay at home.”
For its part, Top is asking for strong messages about the risks.
“And to provide guidance to people on how to protect themselves because I think there is real potential for this to take off as a forest fire,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jenne will be watching cases during the stampede and in the following weeks. Entrance to the virus will be extremely difficult for public health teams, he warns, once exhibitions occur.
“Where there could be more than 100,000 people per day on the ground, the contact tracking becomes impossible,” he said.
“And try to advance and put exposure alerts, again, impossible in scenarios such as these great meetings.”
