Alberta Health Services officials confirmed two new measles cases in the Edmonton zone on Tuesday. This brings the overall number of affected people in the area to 11.
Both of the newly confirmed cases are in young children under the age of 24 months. They were linked to previously confirmed cases.
Several of the potential exposure locations are in Edmonton.
Individuals who were in the following locations, on the dates and time frames noted, may have been exposed to measles:
West Edmonton Mall: 8882-170 St., Edmonton
May 16 – 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Grande Prairie Mall: 11891-199 St., Grande Prairie
May 17 – 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Synergy Wellness Centre: 501 Bethel Dr., Sherwood Park
May 20 – 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Grande Prairie Army and Navy Club: 10117-93 St., Grande Prairie
May 20 – 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Kids in the Park Daycare: 2051 Sherwood Dr., Sherwood Park
May 15 – 8:25 a.m. to 7 p.m.
May 16 – 8:20 a.m. to 11:05 a.m.
May 20 – 8:35 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.
May 23 – 10:50 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Royal Pizza: 590 Baseline Rd., Sherwood Park
May 16 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Ashmont Agriplex: Ashmont
May 18 – 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Westgate Medicentre: #101, 9540 – 163 St. NW, Edmonton
May 19 – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sherwood Park Medicentre: 101 Bremner Dr., Sherwood Park
May 20 – 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dynalife Dx at Synergy Wellness Complex Lab: 501 Bethel Dr., Sherwood Park
May 20 – 1:05 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
AHS declared a measles outbreak in the Edmonton zone last month.
Infants between six months and less than 12 months of age are eligible for an early additional dose of measles vaccine.
The additional early dose will provide short-term added protection to infants who are otherwise vulnerable during this time of increased risk of exposure to disease. Those who receive the additional early dose will still be required to receive the two routinely recommended doses of measles vaccine, administered at 12 months of age and between four and six years of age.
Children aged four and older, who are attending day cares, day homes and schools within the outbreak areas, and have not yet received their second dose of measles vaccine, are advised to receive it as soon as possible.
AHS continues to advise all Albertans to ensure they are up-to-date on all immunizations. Individuals born in or after 1970 require two documented doses of measles vaccine to be protected.
Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3 C or higher, cough, runny nose and/or red eyes, and a red, blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts. The rash begins behind the ears and on the face and spreads down the body and then to the arms and legs.
If you have symptoms of the measles, AHS advises you to stay home and call Health Link Alberta (1-866-408-5465) before visiting any health-care facility or provider.
You could win up to $1 million for your healthy living idea thanks to a new competition through the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The CDA is partnering with The Play Exchange to support community healthy living initiatives across Canada.
The competition is open to all individuals and organizations. Entries must outline how your idea will encourage active living in Canada by positively influencing people’s behaviour, such as increasing physical activity, inspiring children to eat well and be more active, or motivating families to participate in activities that prevent chronic diseases.
One-third of all Canadian children are overweight or obese, and only 4.4 percent of children get the recommended amount of physical activity.
Six finalists will each receive mentoring and support from LIFT Philanthropy Partners, valued at $30,000, to develop a business plan. The top entrant will be eligible to receive up to $1 million from the Government of Canada to support their project. Entries will be accepted until June 18.
For more information, visit: http://www.changemakers.com/playexchange.
University of British Columbia researchers have identified a peptide that prevents biofilm, which is a frequent cause of infections.
Biofilms, highly structured communities of bacteria that grow on skin, lung or heart tissue, are responsible for two-thirds of all human infections.
There are currently no approved treatments for biofilm infections and bacteria in biofilms are considerably more resistant to standard antibiotics.
In a recently published study in the journal PLOS Pathogens, UBC scientists have been able to identify the small peptide known as 1018 – that destroys biofilms and prevents them from forming.
The peptide works on both classes of bacteria as well as several major antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including E.coli.
"Currently there is a severe problem with antibiotic-resistant organisms. Our entire arsenal of antibiotics is gradually losing effectiveness,” says Bob Hancock, lead author and a professor in UBC's department of microbiology and immunology.
"Our strategy represents a significant advance in the search for new agents that specifically target bacterial biofilms."
Women who eat a poor diet before they become pregnant are 50 per cent more likely to have a preterm birth than those on a healthy diet, says research from the University of Adelaide in Australia.
Published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers analyzed the dietary patterns of more than 300 south Australian women.
The study found that women who consistently ate a diet high in protein and fruit prior to becoming pregnant were less likely to have a preterm birth. Those who consistently ate high fat, high sugar foods and convenience foods were about 50 per cent more likely to have a preterm birth.
"Women who consumed mainly discretionary foods, such as takeaway, potato chips, cakes, biscuits, and other foods high in saturated fat and sugar were more likely to have babies born preterm," says Dr. Jessica Grieger, one of the researchers.
"Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant disease and death and occurs in approximately one in 10 pregnancies globally.”
This was the first study of its kind to assess women's pre-pregnancy diet and its association with birth outcomes.
