Manitoba reports 3 more measles cases in 3rd week of June

Three more measles cases were confirmed in Manitoba during the third week of June, the province's weekly update says.

The most recent data was posted on Wednesday and only goes to June 21. The new cases bring the total number of confirmed measles infections to 108 so far this year. 

The number of confirmed cases peaked in Manitoba during May, with 72 confirmed cases. So far in June, there have been 17 confirmed infections.

There have also been eight probable cases since the start of the year: four reported in April and the other half in June.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through droplets formed in the air when someone coughs, sneezes or talks. 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.

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.

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 June 14, there had been 3,381 reported measles cases in Canada, data from Health Canada said.

Most measles cases have been reported in Ontario, where the highly contagious virus has also claimed the life of a baby who died after being born prematurely and infected through the mother early in June. 

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.

The province also extended vaccine eligibility to start at six months for children who were evacuated from their communities because of wildfires and who may be staying in southern Manitoba, where there have been measles outbreaks.

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.