For the third time in four days, Manitoba Health is sharing new, additional measles exposure sites in Southern Manitoba. Following announcements Saturday and Sunday, Public Health officials have shared several new exposure locations in the table below.
In the latest update from the province, issued late Tuesday afternoon, a new development was also noted.
"Public health is also advising that some of the recent measles cases did not have any known contact to a case," noted the update. "Previously, all of the cases had known contact with measles either during travel or in Manitoba."
Public health is asking individuals who think they may have been exposed at the following locations, but have not been directly notified, to contact Health Links-Info Santé at 1-888-315-9257:
Public health is communicating directly with the school and Boundary Trails Health 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.
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. Those figures are up to April 26th, with the next update to the number of cases on Wednesday. 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 19th. The Health Canada data will be updated Friday, May 9th.
Symptoms of measles generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure. Initial symptoms may 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).
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.