Latest news with #MarkJoffe
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta has highest measles cases per capita in North America as summer travel gets underway
Alberta has the most measles cases in North America on a per-capita basis, worrying experts who say summer events could push case counts even higher. The province's former chief medical officers of health Dr. Mark Joffe says that's twice the rate of confirmed cases in Ontario. Ontario has been deemed Canada's epicentre of the outbreak in absolute case numbers, reporting 1,910 confirmed infections since its outbreak began in October, but with a population three times the size as Alberta. Alberta reported yesterday that 1,230 people have been infected with the highly contagious disease since March. This comes as the province's largest event, the Calgary Stampede, is underway, along with summer camps, family gatherings and interprovincial travel. In the United States, there have been 1,288 confirmed measles cases this year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest data. Dr. James Talbot, another former chief medical officer of health in Alberta, says the province has even outpaced India on a per-capita basis, which has approximately 10,000 measle cases, but a population of 1.4 million. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025. Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Global News
09-07-2025
- Health
- Global News
As summer travel gets underway, Alberta has highest measles cases per capita in North America
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Alberta has the most measles cases in North America on a per-capita basis, worrying experts who say summer events could push case counts even higher. The province's former chief medical officers of health Dr. Mark Joffe says that's twice the rate of confirmed cases in Ontario. Ontario has been deemed Canada's epicentre of the outbreak in absolute case numbers, reporting 1,910 confirmed infections since its outbreak began in October, but with a population three times the size as Alberta. Alberta reported yesterday that 1,230 people have been infected with the highly contagious disease since March. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy This comes as the province's largest event, the Calgary Stampede, is underway, along with summer camps, families gatherings and interprovincial travel. In the United States, there have been 1,288 confirmed measles cases this year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest data. Story continues below advertisement Dr. James Talbot, another former chief medical officer of health in Alberta, says the province has even outpaced India on a per-capita basis, which has approximately 10,000 measle cases, but a population of 1.4 million. 2:22 Health Matters: Concern over measles spreading within Canada this summer
Winnipeg Free Press
09-07-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alberta has highest measles cases per capita in North America as summer travel gets underway
Alberta has the most measles cases in North America on a per-capita basis, worrying experts who say summer events could push case counts even higher. The province's former chief medical officers of health Dr. Mark Joffe says that's twice the rate of confirmed cases in Ontario. Ontario has been deemed Canada's epicentre of the outbreak in absolute case numbers, reporting 1,910 confirmed infections since its outbreak began in October, but with a population three times the size as Alberta. Alberta reported yesterday that 1,230 people have been infected with the highly contagious disease since March. This comes as the province's largest event, the Calgary Stampede, is underway, along with summer camps, families gatherings and interprovincial travel. In the United States, there have been 1,288 confirmed measles cases this year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest data. Dr. James Talbot, another former chief medical officer of health in Alberta, says the province has even outpaced India on a per-capita basis, which has approximately 10,000 measle cases, but a population of 1.4 million. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025. Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
CBC
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Alberta's measles case count surges above 200
Alberta's total number of reported measles cases, since outbreaks began in March, has passed 200. On Friday, the province's count increased by 17, including 13 in the south zone, four in the central zone and two in the Calgary zone. The province also found that two previously reported cases in the north zone were deemed out-of-province cases, bringing the net total change to 17. Overall, the province has seen 210 reported cases of measles this year. Of that total, 26 are known to be active. The province's south zone has seen the bulk of the cases, with 106. The province also reports that the majority of cases, 121, have been recorded in Albertans between five and 17 years old. The tally is 58 for patients under five years old. Provincial data, which was last updated on April 26, shows 11 people have been hospitalized in Alberta due to confirmed measles cases since outbreaks began this spring. On Thursday, Alberta Health Services released details about a confirmed measles patient in southern Alberta who was in public settings while infectious last week. The patient was at the ATB branch in the Village of Foremost on April 21 between approximately 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and at the ATB Financial branch in Bow Island between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and the Rexall Pharmacy at 73 Seventh St. S.E. in Medicine Hat between 4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on April 22. Earlier this week, AHS also informed the public a confirmed measles patient was at the Two Hills Health Centre Emergency Department, Lab and Diagnostic Imaging in the province's central zone between 8:09 p.m. and 10:14 p.m. on April 24, and at St. Joseph's General Hospital in Vegreville between 8:20 p.m. that same night and 3:50 a.m. the following morning. And in Alberta's north zone, a confirmed measles patient was reported on the weekend in a public setting in Whitecourt. The person was reported to be in the Whitecourt Emergency Department on Sunday, April 27, between 4:43 a.m. and 8:36 p.m., and again on Monday from 8:43 p.m. and 3:35 a.m. the following morning. Alberta's former chief medical officer of health, Dr. Mark Joffe, said last week the recent surge in cases "should concern us all." Joffe left the interim CMOH position in April when his contract ended. The premier noted at the time that the government wanted him to stay on as chief medical officer of health. "We are now in a search for a CMOH," Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said Thursday. "I would love to see a permanent CMOH as soon as possible, but we will have to go out to market … there's a process for that as well." LaGrange added that Alberta is seeing a higher number of immunizations compared to last year. According to the provincial government's website, between one and three out of every 1,000 people with measles will die. Measles symptoms include: High fever. Cough. Runny nose. Red eyes. Blotchy, red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.
Edmonton Journal
29-04-2025
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Rob Breakenridge: Why has province been so unwilling to talk about measles vaccines?
If we're going to still have a CMOH, this is precisely the sort of situation they need to be at the forefront of No longer the provincial chief medical officer of health, Dr. Mark Joffe is speaking out on the measles outbreak in Alberta and Canada. Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia Before 2020, there were likely few Albertans who could name Alberta's chief medical officer of health (CMOH). That's likely the case once again. In between, of course, Deena Hinshaw — much like her provincial and federal counterparts — became a household name. That's not the norm, nor should we want it to be. But our level of familiarity with top health officials should be a byproduct of circumstances, not political preference. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors It was very much a matter of political preference when Premier Danielle Smith fired Hinshaw as CMOH as one of her first acts as premier. Dr. Mark Joffe was subsequently appointed interim CMOH, a position he held for more than two years before finally bowing out earlier this month. We've gone from one interim CMOH to another. Dr. Sunil Sookram has been temporarily appointed, while the province has begun the process of finding a permanent replacement. It remains to be seen whether the new interim CMOH will be any more visible or vocal than his predecessor. Based on Joffe's tenure, that seems unlikely. With a worsening measles outbreak in the province, though, that is less than ideal. Barely a day goes by now that we aren't hearing about new measles cases and potential public exposures to the virus. Alberta's outbreak isn't the worst in North America, or even Canada, but it's highly concerning. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As the measles case count has continued to climb — now well over 100 — Alberta's CMOH has been conspicuously absent. There were no public news conferences and no interview requests granted. The province maintained that Joffe was closely monitoring the situation and it was being largely handled by local health officials in affected areas. It's reminiscent of the E. coli outbreak that occurred in Calgary in 2023. It wasn't until we had well over 200 cases linked to that outbreak — including more than two dozen hospitalized children — that the CMOH was finally allowed to appear at a news conference. It was 10 months into his appointment as CMOH and his first public appearance. Was it Joffe's decision to maintain a low profile through this measles outbreak? That should be a decision that falls to the CMOH based on an assessment of the situation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More It is both revealing and troubling that one of the first acts from Joffe as a now-former CMOH was to write an op-ed for the Calgary Herald laying out the reasons Albertans should be alarmed by this measles outbreak, and how crucial it is for us to increase vaccination rates. Later in the week, he gave a lengthy presentation at the University of Alberta emphasizing the same points. It is commendable that he would lend his expertise and whatever profile he still has to raise awareness about this rather important matter, but regrettable that he wasn't able to convey this message only days earlier, while still CMOH. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It's fair to note here that Alberta Health Services has been diligent and transparent in publishing the measles case count and details around potential public exposures to the virus. Statements from AHS and Alberta Health have extolled the benefits and safety profile of the measles vaccine. This isn't the COVID pandemic and we certainly don't need daily televised news conferences from the CMOH. However, it's not a binary choice between a saturation of daily briefings and no appearances whatsoever. There is more than enough room in between for some meaningful and deliberate public communications. It's unclear why the province has been so unwilling to allow the CMOH to speak publicly. It could just be a lingering distaste of the CMOH's pandemic profile. Or, perhaps it's a reluctance to concede the seriousness of the outbreak. Hopefully, this has nothing to do with the politicization of vaccines. If we're going to still have a CMOH, this is precisely the sort of situation they need to be at the forefront of. The province shouldn't stand in the way of that. Rob Breakenridge is a Calgary-based broadcaster and writer. He can be found at and reached at News Opinion Opinion Local News Politics
