Measles cases spur fears of outbreak

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This article was published 24/04/2025 (195 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Efforts are being made to slow the spread of measles in a region with Manitoba’s lowest vaccination rate, as cases of the highly contagious virus climb locally and across the country.

“We’ve been concerned about the potential for significant measles outbreaks for a long time,” said Dr. Davinder Singh, the province’s public health lead on the subject of measles.

“If it just happens to get into an under-immunized group, they have a real significant exposure during a contagious time, it could increase quite rapidly.”

The province announced Wednesday two new confirmed cases of measles in the Southern Health region at an elementary school in the Rural Municipality of Stanley.

On Thursday, public health officials were setting up an immunization clinic at Southwood School between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to offer inoculations to the school population and community at large, Garden Valley School Division superintendent Dan Ward told the Free Press.

The province said the sites of exposure were Southwood School on April 14 and 15 during school hours, and Bus 2683 before and after school, servicing Southwood School and Prairie Dale School in the nearby community of Schanzenfeld.

The two measles cases stemmed from recent international travel to Mexico, a news release said.

In a letter send to parents and staff, Ward wrote Southwood School is working closely with public health to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and families.

Singh said a school exposure is of significant concern and public health will continue to connect with families with outdated immunization records.

Since 2023, the province’s five regional health authorities have been monitoring immunization rates and deploying public messaging within communities with lower vaccine uptake, Singh said.

“This is an entirely preventable type of outbreak. We have an extremely effective, extremely safe vaccine … it’s within our control entirely to be able to prevent outbreaks of measles.”–Dr. Davinder Singh

Measles vaccination rates in the Southern Health region continue to be the lowest in the province and currently make up the majority of confirmed cases and exposures provincewide.

According to the province’s 2023 annual report on immunization coverage in children, Southern Health had a measles vaccination rate of 63.8 per cent for children up to two years old receiving the first dose and 53.3 per cent for children receiving the second dose by age seven.

Manitoba’s first-dose rate was 79.9 per cent and 65.4 per cent for second doses.

RM of Stanley reeve Ike Friesen was informed of the newest cases Wednesday evening by the school division’s board of trustees.

Friesen said he is not concerned about the recent cases and the RM is taking a hands-off approach to communicating the emerging virus numbers to the public.

“It’s not our responsibility for any health issues like that, it’s up to Southern Health,” he said. “There is really nothing that we would be involved in.”

Friesen said the RM would not be relaying information about the vaccine clinic to residents.

Winkler mayor Henry Siemens made similar comments regarding the city’s responsibility for public messaging regarding measles and denied there were any lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to be brought forward.

“There is absolutely no story or lesson to be learned here,” Siemens said.

The mayor applauded the school division and Southern Health for its communication regarding the recent cases.

Southern Health deferred comment regarding spreading awareness about measles and vaccination to Singh.

Singh said the province is taking every available opportunity to discuss vaccinations with residents, but recognizes it is important to tread lightly.

“There is absolutely no story or lesson to be learned here.”–Winkler mayor Henry Siemens

“If you have someone who is hesitant or not wanting a specific recommended intervention, then pushing too hard often has the opposite effect to what you hope for … so trying to address those in a respectful way is just the approach that we try to take whenever we have those opportunities,” he said.

As of Thursday, there have been 12 confirmed or probable cases of measles in Manitoba in 2025, including five confirmed cases of people living in the same household.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said measles cases have been reported in six provinces — Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Ontario reported 95 new measles cases Thursday, bringing the total number of infections to 1,020 since October. Seventy-six people, including 57 children, have been hospitalized during the outbreak. All but four of those hospitalized were unvaccinated.

In Alberta, 122 cases of measles have been reported since March.

Measles is a highly infectious communicable disease and tends to be more severe in infants and young children.

Symptoms of measles generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure and may include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes.

Several days after initial symptoms, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and progresses down the body. Measles can lead to complications including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis.

Singh asked the public to check vaccine records and stay up to date on inoculations.

“This is an entirely preventable type of outbreak. We have an extremely effective, extremely safe vaccine … it’s within our control entirely to be able to prevent outbreaks of measles,” he said.

April 21 marked national immunization week. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority urged residents to check their immunization records and get caught up if necessary.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca