A rash, characteristic of measles infection, can be seen on the child’s back. Since February 2025, there have been 351 confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease in Manitoba. (Aleksandr Finch/Shutterstock – image credit)
Manitoba health officials announced 18 new measles cases in the second week of January.
There are now 351 confirmed cases and 30 probable cases of the highly contagious disease since February 2025, according to Manitoba health data updated Friday to Jan. 17.
Since February, 20 measles patients in Manitoba have required hospitalization, including two in the ICU. Sixteen of the hospitalized patients were under the age of 10.
The update came after health officials warned that people may have been exposed to measles at four facilities between Jan. 13 and 15.
People who are in the following locations on the specified dates and times are asked to monitor for symptoms until the specified date:
Walmart Supercenter (1000 Navigator Rd.) Winkler on January 13th from 4-9pm Monitor for symptoms until February 4th.
Horrocks Insurance, 1631 St. Mary’s Rd., E. Winnipeg, Jan. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 5.
Jan. 15 at Del Rios Restaurant, 644 Main St., Winkler, noon to 3 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 6.
East St. Paul Curling Club (2nd Floor), 260 Hoddinott Rd. January 15th from 4:30pm to 11pm at East St. Paul Monitor for symptoms until February 6th.
The state is encouraging people who may have been exposed to the disease to check their immunization records and make sure their vaccines are up to date.
Canada has seen an alarming increase in measles cases since the outbreak began in October 2024, with a total of 5,380 probable and confirmed cases as of January 10. According to Health Canada.
Measles is transmitted through droplets It is produced in the air when someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Spending just a few minutes in the same space as a sick person poses a risk of infection, as the virus can remain on surfaces for up to two hours after the infected person has left.
When monitoring symptoms, look for fever, runny nose, drowsiness, red eyes, small white spots inside the mouth or throat, and red skin rashes. Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.
Manitoba Health Services says vaccination is the only way to protect people from measles infection.
In Manitoba, a two-dose vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (varicella) is routinely offered to children at least 1 year of age and 4 to 6 years of age. The state says if your child gets measles, they can receive a second dose early.
Just over 86 per cent of measles cases reported in Manitoba involved people who had not received at least one dose of the vaccine against the disease, according to the province’s data.
Eleven of the Manitoba cases had received one dose of measles vaccine, and 18 others had received two or more doses. According to the state, vaccination status was unknown in 22 cases.