Manitoba is grappling with a rise in measles cases, prompting urgent calls from public health officials for vaccination and heightened awareness.
Dr. Davinder Singh, medical officer of health for Southern Health-Santé Sud and officer for Manitoba’s provincial immunization program, confirms 20 confirmed cases and four probable cases reported as of May 3, 2025. The uptick mirrors outbreaks in Ontario, Alberta, and international jurisdictions like Texas and Mexico, driven largely by travel-linked transmission.
Rising cases and travel-linked transmission
Measles, eliminated in Canada in 1998, has resurged due to declining vaccination rates and global outbreaks. Dr. Singh emphasizes that Manitoba’s cases stem from exposure to the virus abroad or in other provinces.
“We don’t have measles endemic in Canada,” he says. “Outbreaks start when someone travels to an area with infections, returns while contagious, and exposes unvaccinated communities.”
Ontario’s current outbreak—over 1,400 cases, the largest since 1998—and Alberta’s 300 cases highlight the virus’s spread. Texas and Mexico are also facing significant outbreaks, raising concerns about cross-border travel.
“The virus stays airborne for up to two hours, making it highly contagious even before symptoms appear,” Dr. Singh explains.
Symptoms, risks, and protective measures
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, red eyes, and a distinctive rash that spreads from the face downward. Infected individuals can transmit the virus four days before and after the rash emerges.
“One in 12 children with measles needs hospitalization, and one in 10 of those requires ICU care,” Dr. Singh warns. In 2024, a child under five died in Ontario, and Texas reported two pediatric deaths this year.
While vaccination remains the most effective defence—93% protection after one dose, 97% after two—Dr. Singh acknowledges alternative precautions for those unable or hesitant to get immunized.
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“If you’re unvaccinated and travel to outbreak zones like Ontario, Texas, or Mexico, avoid public spaces for up to three weeks after returning,” he advises. Households hosting visitors from high-risk areas should similarly limit unvaccinated members’ public exposure.
“Even if people don’t want to get vaccinated, I don’t think the vast majority want to transmit measles to others,” he says. “Measles isn’t a mild illness. It can cause severe outcomes even in healthy individuals.”
Balancing community safety and personal choice
Dr. Singh stresses transparency about measles’ long-term risks, including encephalitis (brain swelling) in 1 in 1,000 cases and a rare, fatal complication that can emerge years later.
“The virus can wipe out immune memory, leaving people vulnerable to other infections,” he explains.
For those who are vaccine-hesitant, he urges heightened situational awareness: monitor exposure sites listed on Southern Health-Santé Sud’s website, isolate after potential contact, and avoid high-risk settings like schools or crowded spaces.
“If you have visitors from outbreak areas, consider postponing gatherings if anyone in your home is unvaccinated,” he adds.
Despite alternatives, Dr. Singh reiterates the vaccine’s safety and societal value.
“We’ve immunized Manitobans against measles since 1967. My kids, colleagues, and their families are immunized—we trust its benefits.” He says, further encouraging dialogue with healthcare providers to address concerns. “If most unvaccinated people get immunized, this outbreak stops. We have decades of proof.”
Exposure sites, primarily in the Morden-Winkler region and Interlake-Eastern Health district, are updated online. Dr. Singh concludes with a plea for collective action.
“Talk to a trusted source. Whether through vaccination or precautions, we must protect those who can’t get the shot—infants, pregnant individuals, and the immunocompromised.”
To find the full list of recorded exposure sites in Manitoba, click here.