Concerns continue to grow in Manitoba as the province announces new measles exposure sites

Concerns continue to grow in Manitoba, after the province announced new measles exposure sites were identified over the weekend.

“We know where things could go, and yes, we are concerned,” said Davinder Singh, the Medical Officer of Health with the Southern Health & Manitoba Immunization Program.

“It’s an airborne virus and it can hang out in the air for up to two hours after someone leaves the room.”

Public health officials say people may have been exposed at multiple locations in Winkler, including the Real Canadian Superstore on April 28th, and the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre on three separate dates last week. Other possible exposures occurred at Winners and a local Dynacare lab, with monitoring dates stretching into mid-May.

Since February, the province has seen ten confirmed and for probable cases. The bulk of those appeared in April, and many have been linked to public places, schools, and medical sites.

Manitoba Health is urging anyone who may have been exposed to check their immunization records and monitor symptoms like fever, cough, and rash

“Immunization is by far the best option to protect yourself and stop the spread of the outbreak.”