Clinical information
*New* reporting process for measles cases
Please note that the reporting process for measles has changed. Primary care providers should no longer report cases to their Zone Medical Officer of Health. Effective immediately, please use the process below.
New process
All suspected, probable and confirmed cases of measles (from in-person/virtual assessments) must be reported immediately by calling 1-844-343-0971.
You will be prompted to press 1 if you are reporting a measles case. You will be asked to leave the following information:
Your first and last name and the best number to reach you at.
The patient’s first and last name, date of birth, healthcare number, onset date of symptoms, what symptoms the patient is experiencing, what tests have been ordered, and any known links to measles cases including travel.
You will get a call back to collect any missing information if needed between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.
Please advise the patient to isolate in their home until they are called with the results of their tests and that they may also receive a call from public health.
Primary Care Providers can still reach out to their Zone Medical Officer of Health with questions or concerns about measles at the following numbers:
South Zone: 403-388-6111 (will need to ask to page MOH)
For those living in a First Nations community: ISC MOH: 780-218-9929
Note that the following resources have been updated to reflect the new reporting process change:
Measles Primary Care Summary Guide
Provincial Measles Primary Care Clinical Pathway
Lab reminder: Appropriate collection and transport of lab samples
The laboratory diagnosis of measles is critically dependent upon the collection of the right sample(s) sent in the correct transport medium or container, otherwise the sample will be rejected for testing, or the test result will be inaccurate.
The following are the appropriate samples and transport medium for collection:
Throat and nasopharyngeal swabs MUST be sent in Viral/Universal Transport medium (pink fluid with red cap), the same transport medium as used for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 testing. Do NOT use e-swabs or Reagan-Lowe transport medium.
Urine, at least 5 to 10 mL, in a sterile container. Do not use vacutainers or containers with preservatives.
Blood collected in Gold top Vacutainers (SST).
For further information go to:
Alberta Precision Laboratory Guide to Services – Measles page
If you are sending someone to lab for specimen collection, please call and book ahead with the APL Patient Appointment Line 1-877-702-4486.
*New* measles resource in Low German
To assist in conversations about measles with the Low German-speaking Mennonite community, the Public Health Agency of Canada has prepared a one-pager giving general information on measles, vaccination and exposure processes.
New hand and wrist referral reasons and requirements
The Provincial Adult Plastic Surgery Referral Pathway and the Provincial Adult Orthopedic & Spine Referral Pathway now include three new referral reasons with mandatory requirements:
Cyst of hand/wrist
Trial of 3 aspirations (or reason why unable/inappropriate to aspirate)
X-ray of affected joint
Suspected benign mass (hand/wrist)
Imaging confirming solid mass
MRI ordered
Suspected malignant mass (hand/wrist)
Urgent MRI results
Trigger Finger Patient Pathway: Your journey with trigger finger is now live on MyHealth Alberta, completing the hand and wrist suite on Alberta’s Pathway Hub.
Available Clinical Pathways:
Provincial Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Primary Care Clinical Pathway
Provincial Trigger Finger Primary Care Clinical Pathway
Provincial Dupuytren’s Disease Primary Care Clinical Pathway
Provincial Hand and Wrist Soft Tissue Mass Primary Care Clinical Pathway
Available Patient Pathways:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Pathway: Your journey with carpal tunnel syndrome
Trigger Finger Pathway: Your journey with trigger finger
AHS Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Pearl of the Week: Xylazine
The Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (CPT) Pearls of the Week are short educational summaries of specific CPT topics. They are developed by physician members of the AHS Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. Here’s this week’s “Pearl”:
Xylazine is a sedative used in veterinary medicine that has been detected in the illicit drug supply in Alberta, B.C., and Saskatchewan. It is a centrally acting alpha 2 agonist, similar to clonidine. Symptoms of xylazine toxicity include decreased level of consciousness, hypotension, bradycardia, and small pupils. Leg ulcers may be seen with repeated exposure, possibly because of drug-induced low blood flow to the skin.
New Parent and Newborn Line now province-wide
Primary Care Alberta’s New Parent and Newborn Line, which launched last month in South, Central and North Zones, is now a provincial service. All new parents across Alberta can call 1-833-805-BABY (2229) any time, any day, to get expert advice from registered nurses specializing in postpartum care.
Nurses are available 24/7 to offer support, information and referrals to new parents and caregivers for the first two months after their baby’s birth. Health Link experts receive questions including caring for baby, breastfeeding, mother’s health and baby’s health.
The provincial line replaces the Early Start Parent Information Line previously available in Calgary, and Healthy Beginnings in Edmonton.
Health system transformation
Interim CMOH appointed by Alberta Health
Alberta Health appointed Dr. Sunil Sookram as interim Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) on April 17. Dr. Sookram currently serves as facility medical director and chief of medical staff at Strathcona Community Hospital. He is also a clinical professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Alberta, and practices as an emergency physician at the University of Alberta Hospital.
Read the full Alberta Health news release.
Professional development & events
PCA teams take home 2 HQCA Awards
Primary Care Alberta is delighted that two of its teams have won Health Quality Council of Alberta 2025 Patient Experience Awards. These awards recognize the recipients’ commitment to ensuring compassionate, timely and effective healthcare is available to every Albertan at every stage of life. Congratulations to both the Alberta Virtual Pain Program and My Next Steps: Getting ready to leave the hospital teams!
Find out more about the award recipients.
National Immunization Awareness Week
April 21-30 is National Immunization Awareness Week and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is reminding those living in Alberta to get immunized.
With measles cases identified in Alberta, the best protection for Albertans is to ensure they are up to date with immunizations. The MMR-Var vaccine is given as part of Alberta’s routine immunization schedule for children and is free. It protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella).
If patients have questions about immunizations or immunization status, they can talk to their healthcare provider or call Health Link at 811.
Engagement opportunities
HQCA survey on the primary care patient experience
What are your patients thinking? Are their needs being met? What could physicians and their team do differently?
Family physicians, clinics or PCNs can sign up with the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) so their patients can participate in the survey. The survey helps primary care providers identify opportunities for improvement and reflect on what’s working well.
Get more information about the survey.
Primary Healthcare Panel Reports
The HQCA provides Primary Healthcare Panel Reports upon request to family physicians across the province. This free resource is an invaluable tool to support and inform program planning, panel management, quality improvement and policy development at various levels of the primary healthcare system.
Cannabis use survey
In collaboration with King’s University College at Western University, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is conducting a national survey to better understand primary care providers’ knowledge, practices and information needs in advising patients regarding cannabis use.
Find out more about the survey.
Questions: Dr. Justine Renard, CCSA Senior Research and Policy Analyst, at jrenard@ccsa.ca.