Amid upcoming spring break vacations and Easter holidays, parents and guardians in Manitoba are being cautioned by public health authorities to be mindful of measles risks while traveling or participating in large gatherings. A letter, issued by school divisions and signed by Manitoba Health communicable disease prevention officials Richard Baydack and Santina Lee, advises parents to remain at home and avoid travel or events if they suspect their child may have contracted measles.
Caregivers who believe their child has measles and intend to seek urgent or emergency care are urged to inform the facility upon arrival to enable staff to take necessary precautions to safeguard others. The province confirmed that the letter was disseminated to the entire kindergarten to Grade 12 and early learning and child care sector, with instructions for schools to forward the message to all parents, guardians, staff, and volunteers.
One such letter was obtained by CBC News from the Pembina Trails School Division in Winnipeg. Parents seeking information about measles are encouraged to reach out to their healthcare provider or contact Health Links at 204-788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 elsewhere in Manitoba, according to the correspondence.
Manitoba has experienced a higher number of measles cases compared to other regions of the country this year, accounting for approximately 60% of all reported cases nationwide as of March 14, based on updated federal data. The total confirmed and suspected measles cases in Manitoba have already surpassed the tally for 2025 within the first two and a half months of 2026, according to provincial data released on Friday.
Furthermore, Manitoba public health officials cautioned on Monday that individuals present at the Victoria Hospital emergency department waiting room in Winnipeg on Friday, March 20, between 5:10 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., might have been exposed to measles. Unvaccinated individuals who may have had contact with measles are advised to consult their healthcare provider to determine eligibility for preventive treatment, which is typically administered within six days of exposure.
Measles treatment primarily focuses on alleviating symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fever, drowsiness, red eyes, and the development of small white spots inside the mouth or throat. The infectious period for measles spans about four days before the onset of the rash and continues for another four days after its appearance.
Measles spreads through airborne droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, with the virus capable of lingering in the air for up to two hours.
