Confirmed case of measles at Edmonton International Airport
Anyone who travelled through the Edmonton International Airport between Feb. 12 and 13 could have been exposed to measles.Alberta Health Services issued a public health warning on Feb. 24, after finding someone with lab-confirmed measles had travelled through the airport and to areas in Leduc.
The individual visited the Walmart Supercentre at 5302 Discovery Way in Leduc on Feb. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m.; was picked up by an Edmonton Airport Hotel Shuttle from Crystal Star Inn on Feb. 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; departed the Edmonton International Airport on Canadian North Flight #5T-444 to Inuvik on Feb. 13 at 7:45 a.m.; and spent Feb. 12 and 13 at Stars Inn Hotel at 8332 Sparrow Crescent, Leduc.
People who were in those areas and who were born after 1970 and have not received a vaccine or already had the disease are at risk.
AHS is warning people to monitor potential symptoms for 21 days from the time of exposure, which could be up to March 5.
Symptoms include: a fever of 38.3 C or higher, cough, runny nose, red eyes and blotchy red patches that appear three to seven days after the fever starts. The patches will appear first behind the ears and face, travelling down to the rest of the body.
The virus is an extremely contagious disease and spreads through the air. There is no treatment for measles.
If someone has any of these symptoms, they should stay at home and call Health Link 811, before going to a healthcare centre.
Healthcare best employers
Covenant Health and Alberta Health Services were both crowned as Alberta’s Top 75 Employers on Feb. 20.The two organizations were chosen based on their physical workplace, work atmosphere, health, financial and family benefits, employee communications, performance management, training and skill development and community involvement.
Editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers compared each nominee to other employers in their field.
Karen Galenzoski, chief human resources officer from Covenant Health, said the organization prides itself on how it treats its employees. The non-profit offers many mental health services, as well as programs, to assist its staff.
“We're very, very committed to employee engagement,” she said.
When it comes to winning the award, Monica Williams, director of talent acquisition with Covenant Health, said she was excited.
Todd Gilchrist, VP of people, legal and privacy for AHS, said the organization was proud to receive the recognition for the second year in a row.
“Creating a great place to work – one of the best in Alberta and Canada – matters, because in healthcare, having an engaged workforce is shown to improve the care experiences of patients and families,” Gilchrist said.
But the two health organizations aren’t the only ones in the region who were recognized. Champion Pet Foods was also recognized on the list of Alberta’s Top Employers.
The editorial board that selected the winners said this year one characteristic emerged among all the employers: resiliency.
Even though the struggling energy industry had a negative impact on businesses and organizations in Alberta last year, each employer still sought to adhere to the highest standards in the workplace.
The board said that’s why it decided to expand from last year’s top 70 employers to 75.
