Health officials warn of measles exposure at 2 schools in southern Manitoba

Public health officials are warning people at two schools in southern Manitoba that they might have been exposed to measles earlier this month.

Prairie Dale School on 39 Church St. in the small community of Schanzenfeld, about 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, is one of them. 

Those who were at the school on May 12 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. are asked to monitor for measles symptoms until June 3, the province said in a Friday bulletin. 

People might have also been exposed to the highly contagious virus at the Lorette Collegiate at 1082 Dawson Rd. in Lorette, about 25 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg. 

The possible measles exposure at the school happened on May 12 between 8:20 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  Anyone who might have been exposed should also monitor for symptoms of the highly infectious disease until June 3. 

The exposure at the Collège Lorette Collegiate is the first at the Seine River School Division, said superintendent Colin Campbell. 

"I can understand parents concern on the on the matter," he said. "It's maybe felt a little disconcerting just because everyone's just came out of COVID not too long ago." 

Campbell says the province contacted the division about the exposure last weekend, and Seine River provided public health with a list of students and staff who might have been exposed to measles.

Parents of children who were at risk of contracting the virus have already been contacted public health, he says. 

"I really appreciate our parents and our community that have been supportive of what public health has expected of them. That makes getting through this as a community and … limit this to an individual and move on from here," Campbell said.

Measles, which is spread through droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing, can be life-threatening and tends to be more severe in infants and young children. 

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

A person with the illness can spread the virus from four days before their rash appears until four days after that.

Immunization is the only way to protect people from contracting measles, the province said.

In Manitoba, a two-dose vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) is routinely provided for children at least one year old, and again between ages four and six. If a child is exposed to measles, the province said, a second dose can be given earlier.

As of May 17, the most current data available, there were 60 confirmed cases of measles in Manitoba this year and four more probable cases. That number includes 42 confirmed cases in May alone.