The province is warning of measles exposure at a recent Winnipeg Jets game and says public places in several southern municipalities should be considered measles transmission sites as the number of cases in the province increases.

Manitoba had 44 confirmed cases in the first week of February alone, more than the total number of cases reported in eight of the previous 12 months. The only times the total was higher were in May (72 cases), July (49 cases), December (48 cases), and January 2026 (75 cases).

The average number of monthly infections reported from February to December 2025 was just under 29. According to state data.

The latest Manitoba health data released Friday, covering the period up to Feb. 7, shows there have been 438 confirmed measles cases and 39 probable measles cases in the province since February 2025.

The latest update confirms another measles case in January, bringing the total number of cases for the month to 75.

Friday’s data does not include the 12 measles cases confirmed on February 9th. Presented by Dr. Brent Roussinthe province’s chief public health officer said Thursday.

Large events held in the state in the coming months should be considered as potential measles exposure sites, the state announced. Latest measles bulletinreleased Thursday.

Children under 12 months old, unvaccinated pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems should consider potential exposure to the disease when deciding whether to attend such gatherings, the state said.

The state also says that due to widespread community transmission, people in the municipalities of Stanley, Rhineland, Thompson, Dufferin and Rowland should consider themselves potentially infected in public places they visit those areas.

Jets game exposure

among them, Latest exposure locations reported by state It’s a Winnipeg Jets game.

The province reports there was an exposure in the 300 level seating and concourse area of ​​the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg on Feb. 4 between 6 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.

That night, an NHL game between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens was being held at the downtown arena.

Anyone who may have been exposed is advised to monitor for symptoms until February 26th.

A spokesperson for Jets owner True North Sports and Entertainment, which also owns and operates the arena, said the company also owns and operates the arena. It is in contact with Manitoba Public Health and is “relying on their expertise and protocols to provide any necessary public guidance.”

At Thursday’s press conference, Roussin also said that “everything is over.” The number of related infections is 30. I was exposed to measles at last month’s Ag Days farm show in Brandon..

About 35,000 people attended the annual event, held from January 20 to 22 at the Keystone Center in southwestern Manitoba. Manitoba Public Health says people who visited hotels, restaurants and stores in the city during the three-day event may have also been exposed to the virus.

Changed to notification of measles

The state also changed the way it reports potential measles infections.

As of this week, the state has been issuing bulletins with information about known measles exposure sites.

But the state announced Thursday that it will now only issue a bulletin if the infection occurred in the past six days, and those infected may benefit from preventive treatment.

Other exposure sites reported by the state this week include the emergency department at Boundary Trails Health Center between Winkler and Morden on Feb. 7 between 1:30 and 5:50 p.m.

King’s School in West St. Paul is also on the latest list of exposed sites. Anyone who was at school between 3:45pm and 6:15pm on February 3rd will be asked to monitor themselves for symptoms until February 25th.

People who were on board WestJet flight WS2451 from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Winnipeg between 4:58 p.m. and 10:23 p.m. on Feb. 4 are also asked to monitor themselves for symptoms until Feb. 26.

Anyone who was at Winnipeg’s Richardson Airport between 10:25 p.m. on Feb. 4 and 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 5 should monitor themselves for measles symptoms.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the province is working to ensure people get measles information from trusted sources.

“The measles problem can be solved with vaccination,” Kinew told reporters at an unrelated news conference Friday.

“If you talk to doctors, they say vaccination saves lives. Maybe taking a little more time…listening to our doctors and spending a little less time on social media platforms will help all of us.”

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. If your child has been exposed to measles, they can receive a second dose.

In May, Manitoba expanded vaccination eligibility to infants aged six months in the Southern Health Region and the Eastern Interlake Regional Health Authority region.

Due to the Ag Days outbreak and continued infection rates in southern Manitoba, the province is expanding measles vaccination eligibility to children aged six to 12 months in the Prairie Mountain Health Region.

The majority of Manitoba’s cases – 409 people, or about 85 per cent – are among people who have not been vaccinated against the disease, with 23 cases involving people whose vaccination status is unknown, according to provincial data.

A total of 18 cases occurred in people who had received one dose of measles vaccine. There were 27 cases involving people who had received two or more doses of the vaccine.

It is generally believed that people born before 1970 are immune due to past exposure to measles, but people born after 1970 still need vaccination.

According to public health data, 24 people have been hospitalized with measles since the outbreak began, including 17 children under the age of 10.

The state said in an update Friday that some hospitalized patients include patients with difficulty breathing, lung infections and dehydration.

No measles-related deaths have been reported;Two people were also infected during the outbreak in Manitoba and required admission to intensive care.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, and droplets are dispersed into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Being in the same space as someone who is sick for even a few minutes can put you at risk. The virus can remain in the air for 2 hourssaid the Department of Public Health.