Measles exposure identified at Winkler autobody shop, Manitoba government says

Anyone who was at a southern Manitoba autobody shop at certain times over the past week might have been exposed to measles, the province said Friday.

The possible exposures happened at Moonlite Auto Body at 420 Airport Dr. in Winkler, Man., on May 23, 26 and 27 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., a provincial news release said.

Anyone potentially exposed on those dates should monitor for symptoms until June 14, 17 and 18, respectively, the release said. 

The province says some of the recent measles cases detected in Manitoba didn't have any known contact with another measles case, meaning it spread in the community.

Anyone who thinks they might have been exposed at the autobody shop but hasn't been directly notified should call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 toll-free in Manitoba, the province said.

As of Wednesday (the most recent update available), Manitoba had confirmed 72 cases of measles since February and four other probable cases. Fifty-three of those cases were detected this month.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through droplets in the air that form when someone with the illness coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure, and can initially include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability, red eyes and small white spots on the inside of the mouth or throat, the province said.

Several days after those initial symptoms, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and moves down the body.

An infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears to four days after, the province said.

The disease also tends to be more severe in infants and young kids, and can be life-threatening and lead to complications including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (brain inflammation).

If a person develops measles symptoms, anyone who might have been exposed is advised to isolate at home and contact their health-care provider to tell them about the potential exposure, the province said.

Anyone else in the home who isn't immunized against measles should limit their exposure to other people until the symptomatic person has received advice from their health-care provider. 

The province also notes it's best to call ahead so your health-care provider can take steps to reduce the risk of exposing other people to the virus. 

Immunization against measles is the only way to protect against getting the illness, the province said, encouraging people to contact an immunization provider such as a local public health office, physician or nurse practitioner to ensure coverage is up to date.

In Manitoba, a two-dose vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR or MMRV) is routinely given for children who are at least one, and again between ages four and six. However, in the case of a measles exposure, a second dose can be given earliert, the province said.