Province warns of possible measles exposure at Winkler clinic, reports 14 more cases
Manitoba has now had 130 confirmed measles cases so far this year
Manitoba public health officials are warning of possible measles exposure at a medical centre in Winkler, as the province also confirmed 14 new cases since its last update.
Anyone who was in the Winkler Medical Clinic, located at 344 First St. in the southern Manitoba city, last Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m is asked to monitor for symptoms until July 26, the province said in a Wednesday notice.
According to the province's most recent data, also updated Wednesday, there were 14 new confirmed cases between June 29 and July 5, bringing the total number of confirmed measles infections to 130 so far this year.
The number of cases spiked in May, with 72 reported. A total of 28 confirmed cases were reported in June.
There have also been eight probable cases since the start of the year: four reported in April and four in June.
Canada achieved measles elimination status in 1998, but imported cases have resulted in outbreaks that started in New Brunswick in October.
From Dec. 29 to June 28, there had been 3,703 reported measles cases in Canada, according to the latest data from Health Canada.
The highly infectious disease 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, Manitoba Health says. Small white spots can also appear on the inside of the mouth or throat.
Immunization is the only way to protect people from contracting measles, the province 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.