7 new confirmed measles cases reported in Manitoba last week
Province has confirmed 165 cases so far this year, 46 of them in July
Manitoba has reported seven more measles cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the province to 165 so far this year.
According to the province's most recent data, which was posted Wednesday and goes until July 26, there was also a new probable measles case detected last week, for a total of 10 probable cases this year in addition to confirmed cases.
The number of confirmed cases in Manitoba spiked in May, with 72 reported that month. Confirmed infections dipped in June with 28 cases. The province has recorded 46 confirmed cases and two probable cases so far in July.
A spokesperson for the province said 10 cases of measles have required hospitalization, and one person was admitted to the intensive care unit as of July 19 this year.
Canada achieved measles elimination status in 1998, but imported cases have resulted in outbreaks of the highly contagious disease that started in New Brunswick in October.
From Dec. 29 to July 19, there had been 3,878 reported measles cases in the country, data from Health Canada said.
The majority of confirmed cases, 1,979 as of July 19, have been reported in Ontario, where the highly contagious virus also claimed the life of a baby who died after being born prematurely and infected through the mother early in June.
Alberta is trailing behind with 1,425 confirmed cases as of July 19, exceeding the number of total cases the entire United States has reported so far this year.
Measles is highly infectious and spreads through droplets in the air, formed when coughing or sneezing. Even a few minutes in the same space as a sick person poses infection risks, as the virus can linger on surfaces for two hours after an infected person leaves.
An infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears until four days after that.
Symptoms of measles 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.
Immunization is the only way to protect people from contracting measles, Manitoba Health says.
A two-dose measles vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) is routinely provided for kids at least one year old and again at age four to six in Manitoba. If a child is exposed to measles, the province said a second dose can be given earlier.
Manitoba has expanded eligibility for vaccines to infants as young as six months old living in the Southern Health region and the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority area.
A list with detailed information on the locations, times and days where the public might have been exposed to measles is available on the province's website.