Manitoba Public Health officials are notifying the public of five confirmed cases of measles in southern Manitoba, all connected to an outbreak in Ontario.
Measles is a highly infectious communicable disease that is spread through droplets in the air formed when coughing or sneezing. An infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears until four days after. The disease tends to be more severe in infants and young children and can be life-threatening.
All five cases involve individuals living in the same household, all of whom were contacts of lab-confirmed cases while recently traveling in Ontario, and they have been asked to isolate at home.
Public Health is also advising those who attended Sunday School and the main service at Winkler's Reinland Mennonite Church on January 26th of the possibility of being exposed to the virus. They are being asked to monitor for symptoms until February 16th.
Exposure may also have occurred at three areas of the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg:
- first floor children’s laboratory and waiting rooms of Clinic X and Clinic W on Jan. 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Orange Bison Zone Level 1 in and around Guildy’s Eatery and adjacent corridors on Jan. 31 from noon to 3 p.m.
- fourth floor cardiology clinic and waiting room in Children’s Hospital on Jan. 31 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Anyone exposed in these areas is asked to monitor for symptoms until February 21st.
Manitoba Health says symptoms of measles generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure and may initially include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes. Small white spots may also develop on the inside of the mouth or throat. Several days after the initial symptoms, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and progresses down the body. Measles can lead to complications including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (brain inflammation).
Public health is also asking anyone who was in these locations during these times to check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date with a measles vaccine, either measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) or measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV).
If symptoms develop, Manitobans are advised to isolate at home and contact their health-care provider and advise them of the potential exposure to measles. It is best to call ahead so health-care staff can take steps to reduce the exposure of other people to the virus.
The public health investigation is ongoing and additional exposure locations may be added. As more contacts are identified, individuals may be asked to isolate and consider vaccination.
Click here for more information
For information on the MMR and MMRV vaccines, visit:
www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/measles.html.
Public health officials will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updated information as necessary.
A statement from Canada’s chief public health officer on measles and the risk to Canadians can be found at https://canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2025/01/statement-from-the-chief-public-health-officer-of-canada-on-measles-and-the-risk-to-canadians.html.
For more information, contact:
- Health Links-Info Santé in Winnipeg at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free in Manitoba).
- Manitoba Government Inquiry for public information at 204-945-3744, 1-866-626-4862 (toll-free in Manitoba) or email mgi@gov.mb.ca.
With files from the Province of Manitoba