Alberta surpasses 300 measles cases as doctors warn of exponential increases

More than 300 people in Alberta have fallen ill from measles since March and a group of doctors are warning the virus could grow exponentially in the coming weeks.

The Alberta government is reporting 16 new measles cases to bring the province's total count to 313.

The rising number has prompted the association representing Alberta doctors to warn of an outbreak that could quickly reach the thousands.

Dr. James Talbot, Alberta's former chief medical officer of health, says cases are likely much higher than reported and that for every 1,000 cases, one to three people will likely die.

After doctors called for a clampdown on the outbreak, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange announced the government would launch an awareness campaign with a straightforward message: Don't get measles, get immunized.

Dr. Shelley Duggan from the Alberta Medical Association says the horse ``is out of the barn'' and Alberta needs to continue ramping up its awareness efforts.