EDMONTON — Alberta has officially surpassed the United States in confirmed measles cases, reporting a staggering 1,314 cases since March. This alarming milestone comes after 30 new cases were diagnosed over the weekend. In comparison, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1,288 cases across 39 states this year.

Despite the high number of cases, Alberta has not recorded any deaths linked to the outbreak. In contrast, three individuals, including two children, have died in the United States due to the disease. The CDC has also noted a higher number of hospitalizations in the U.S., with 162 people hospitalized compared to just over 100 in Alberta.

Dr. Craig Jenne, an immunology and infectious disease professor at the University of Calgary, attributes Alberta's surge in cases to its low vaccination rates. "It was pretty clear we were going to see growth, unfortunately, for several weeks to months," he stated. He emphasized that the disease is spreading easily in the province and that significant measures to control the outbreak have not yet been implemented.

Looking ahead, Dr. Jenne expressed concern that Alberta and other provinces facing similar outbreaks may struggle to control transmission before the fall. This is particularly critical as Canada risks losing its measles eradication status, which it has maintained since 1998. The situation remains fluid, and health officials are closely monitoring the outbreak as they work to implement strategies to curb the spread of the disease.