Manitoba health officials urge vaccinations as number of measles cases climbs

Manitoba health authorities are working to build trust with southern communities where immunization rates are low, in order to prevent a full-scale measles outbreak.

"We are definitely seeing a change in decision making for a number of parents, but we also see a number of parents who are still continuing to decide not to have their children immunized. So it's definitely a mixed response," said Dr. Davinder Singh, a medical officer of health for the Southern Health region.

"We're constantly trying to build trust with those who, for whatever reason, have not had their children immunized … to try to provide information on the importance of it."

Measles can be life-threatening and tends to be more severe in infants and young children.

As of Thursday, there had been nine lab-confirmed cases of measles detected in Manitoba this year, according to provincial data.

There are also four probable cases from earlier in the year in which people had symptoms and connection to Ontario, where measles was circulating, but no lab tests were done, Singh said.

The seventh and eighth cases were confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The province has not released any information about the ninth case.

A spokesperson said that's probably because there was no risk of transmission if the patient self-isolated.

The two cases announced Wednesday are students at Southwood School, an elementary school in Schanzenfeld. They are related to recent international travel to Mexico, health officials say, but there is a risk of potential exposure to others at the school near Winkler, and on the school bus.

Letters were sent out by the school on Wednesday with information to parents about checking the immunization status of their children and how to monitor for any symptoms of measles, Singh said.

The measles vaccine, typically given as part of the combined MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, is a two-dose series. The first is usually recommended around 12 months of age and the second is typically given when the child is four to six years old.

"Even just one dose is very protective. About 93 per cent, or 93 out of 100 people who get even one measles vaccine, would be expected to be protected should they be exposed," Singh said.

"The second dose is recommended because [there are] those other seven people that aren't protected out of 100 from the first dose."

There can be isolated breakthrough cases in immunized people but generally, the doses are extremely effective, he said.

"This is a preventable outbreak."

An immunization clinic was held at the Southwood School on Thursday and there has been an uptick in vaccines at public health clinics, Singh said.

"We are certainly seeing a number of parents who have, for whatever reason, not had their children immunized against measles to date, come forward and ask to be immunized," he said.

"I can't put a specific quantitative number to it, but … we're definitely seeing a response to this in a positive way for some parents. But we are seeing parents who are not making that decision, either."

Helping people see the benefits of the vaccines requires conversations and education with parents on the part of public health nurses, pharmacists and any other health-care provider who is seeing the family, Singh said.

"As long as they have the correct information on the benefits and the anticipated side-effects — mild things like sore arms potential, fever, just common things that you get with immunization … then hopefully a number of people will make the decision," he said.

"It's a multi-pronged effort that is ongoing and will continue to be ongoing because … I don't see that risk abating anytime soon."

Southern Health is operating a measles testing site at the Boundary Trails Health Centre, just west of Winkler, daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Testing is only required if the patient is exposed to measles and is symptomatic, the health authority said in a social media post.

No appointment is required, but patients who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for measles are asked to stay out of the building unless they need immediate medical attention.