EDMONTON - A newborn in Alberta has died of measles marking the province's first death from the disease this year, the government said Thursday.

Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the child was born prematurely and died shortly after being born. The mother had contracted measles during pregnancy.

"This is a heartbreaking loss, and no words can capture the pain of losing a child," she said in a statement Thursday.

She added children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk from measles.

""Since measles cases were first reported in Alberta this spring, I had hoped this moment would not come."

The latest update to Health Canada's website reported one measles death in the country this year.

Ontario's chief medical officer of health said in

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