Province warns of possible measles exposures at Boundary Trails ER, Winkler medical centre
Possible exposures at Boundary Trail on June 19-21, and at C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre on June 17
Manitoba Health is warning the public of possible exposure to measles at Boundary Trails hospital, between Winkler and Morden, and at a medical centre in Winkler.
There were three recent possible exposures at the Boundary Trails Health Centre emergency department, the province said in a Thursday bulletin:
- June 19 from 9:40 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
- June 20 from 10:10 p.m. to 1:20 a.m.
- June 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Anyone who was at the hospital's ER on June 19 and 20 is being asked to watch for symptoms until July 11. Anyone who was there on June 21 is asked to check until July 13.
The province also warned of a possible exposure at the urgent care site of the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre, on Main Street in Winkler, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 17. Anyone who was there at that point is asked to watch for symptoms until July 9.
People who were at any of the possible exposure locations are also advised to check their immunization records to ensure they're up to date with their measles vaccination, the province said.
It also recommends measles vaccination for anyone who may have been exposed and was born in 1970 or later, and has never had a measles vaccine or a measles infection.
The total number of confirmed measles infections in Manitoba is 108 so far this year, according to the most recent provincial data.
Measles is highly infectious and spreads through droplets in the air formed when coughing or sneezing. An infected person can spread the virus from four days before a rash appears until four days after that.
Symptoms generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure, and may include a fever, runny nose, drowsiness and red eyes. Small white spots can also appear on the inside of the mouth or throat, the province said.
If symptoms develop, people who may have been exposed are advised to isolate at home and contact their health-care provider.
The province also stressed that immunization is the only means of protecting people from contracting measles.
A list with detailed information on other possible measles exposures is available on the province's website.