Province warns of possible measles exposure at Winnipeg children's hospital ER

If you were in the children's hospital emergency waiting room at the Heath Sciences Centre in Winnipeg on Sunday, you may have been exposed to measles, Manitoba Health warns.

The province is asking people who were there between 3:45 p.m. and just after 6 p.m. on June 29 to monitor their symptoms until July 21. 

So far this month, there have been 17 confirmed measles infections, according to the most recent data from Manitoba Health as of Monday. 

There have been 108 confirmed measles cases so far this year. 

Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through air droplets created when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

It typically takes between one to three weeks after exposure for symptoms to appear, which may include a red rash, fever, runny nose, drowsiness and red eyes. 

Health officials are asking individuals to call a health-care provider and isolate at home if any of these symptoms develop following exposure.

Vaccination is the only way to protect people from contracting measles, Manitoba Health said. 

Hundreds of children under the age of one have been immunized against the disease since the province expanded eligibility last month.  

A full list of possible measles exposure sites across Manitoba is available on the province's website.