Southern Manitoba Health Alert: Potential Measles Exposure at Multiple Sites
Public health officials are urging residents to take note: several locations across southern Manitoba may have been exposed to measles, including two health centres last week. This alert comes as the province grapples with a rising number of confirmed and probable cases.
Since February 2025, there have been 322 confirmed and 29 probable measles cases, according to data from the Manitoba government. The virus spreads rapidly through droplets in the air, making even brief exposure a concern. Symptoms typically appear one to three weeks after exposure and can include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, red eyes, and small white spots inside the mouth or throat. The characteristic measles rash usually appears a few days after the initial symptoms.
Health officials are particularly concerned about the following sites:
- Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Plum Coulee (January 4, 8:45 AM - 12:15 PM): Anyone present during this time should monitor for symptoms until January 26.
- Boundary Trails Health Centre Emergency Department near Winkler (January 5, 7:50 AM - 11:35 AM): Those who were there should watch for symptoms until January 27.
- Centre médico-social De Salaberry District Health Centre in St-Pierre-Jolys (January 9, 9:05 AM - 11:35 AM): Individuals present during this period should monitor for measles symptoms until January 31.
Measles is highly contagious, and the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours. This means that anyone in the vicinity of an infected person is at risk. The majority of reported cases (over 86%) involved individuals who had not received a single vaccine dose, emphasizing the importance of immunization as the best protection against measles.
If you believe you might have been exposed, it's crucial to check your immunization records and ensure your measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV) is up to date. The health of our community depends on our collective efforts to prevent the spread of this infectious disease.
