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Manitoba health officials say 18 new measles cases were confirmed during the second week of January.
There have now been 351 confirmed and 30 probable cases of the highly contagious disease since February 2025, according to Manitoba Health data that covers up to Jan. 17 and was updated on Friday.
Since February, 20 measles cases in Manitoba have required hospitalization, including two ICU admissions. Of the patients hospitalized, 16 were under the age of 10.
The update comes after health officials warned people might have been exposed to measles at four sites between Jan. 13 and 15.
Anyone at the following locations on the specified dates and times is asked to monitor for symptoms until the identified date:
- Walmart Supercentre at 1000 Navigator Rd. in Winkler on Jan. 13, from 4 to 9 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 4.
- Horrocks Insurance at 1631 St. Mary’s Rd. E. in Winnipeg on Jan. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 5.
- Del Rios Restaurant at 644 Main St. in Winkler on Jan. 15, from 12 to 3 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 6.
- East St. Paul Curling Club (second floor) at 260 Hoddinott Rd. in East St. Paul on Jan. 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 6.
The province is encouraging people who may have been exposed to the disease to check their immunization records and ensure their vaccines are up to date.
Canada has seen an alarming increase in the number of measles cases since the outbreak began in October 2024, with a total of 5,380 probable and confirmed cases as of Jan. 10, according to Health Canada.
Measles 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.
When monitoring for symptoms, keep an eye out for fever, runny nose, drowsiness, red eyes, small white spots on the inside of the mouth or throat, and a red skin rash. Symptoms generally appear within a week to three weeks after exposure.
Immunization is the only way to protect people from contracting measles, Manitoba Health says.
In Manitoba, a two-dose vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) is routinely provided for children at least one year old, and again between ages four and six. If a child is exposed to measles, the province said, a second dose can be given earlier.
Just over 86 per cent of measles cases reported in Manitoba involved people who didn’t have a single vaccine dose against the disease, according to the province’s data.
Eleven of Manitoba’s cases involved people who had one dose of a measles vaccine and 18 others had two or more. Vaccination status was unknown in 22 cases, the province said.
