Updated Sunday, May 4th at 12:45pm - In a news release issued Sunday morning, Public health officials with Manitoba Health announced an additional measles exposure site in Winkler.
Public health is asking individuals who think they may have been exposed at the above location, but have not been directly notified, to contact Health Links-Info Santé at 1-888-315-9257.
You can find more information regarding the previous exposure sites announced Saturday in our original story below.
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In a news release issued Saturday morning, Manitoba Health has announced several new measles exposure sites in Winkler and Gretna.
Public health is asking individuals who think they may have been exposed at the above locations, but have not been directly notified, to contact Health Links-Info Santé 1-888-315-9257 toll-free in Manitoba.
If symptoms develop, individuals who may have been exposed are advised to isolate at home and contact their health-care provider and advise them of the potential exposure to measles. Anyone else in the household who is unimmunized should limit exposure to others until the symptomatic person has received advice from their health-care provider. It is best to call ahead so health-care staff can take steps to reduce the exposure of other people to the virus.
According to Manitoba Health's measles page, there have been ten confirmed cases in Manitoba since February of this year, with an additional four probable cases. Meanwhile, according to Health Canada's measles and rubella weekly monitoring report, there have 1,177 measles cases this year, with 108 cases (100 confirmed, 8 probable) during the most recent reporting week of April 13th through 29th.
Public health is communicating directly with Gretna School and C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre to notify staff, volunteers and families of students who may have been in attendance during the exposure times listed. All families of students, and school staff and volunteers will be receiving letters with the relevant information.
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. Immunization is the only means of protecting people from contracting measles. Contact an immunization provider such as a local public health office, physician or nurse practitioner to ensure everyone is up to date.
For general information on measles, including immunization, visit the Measles webpage.