Manitoba warns of possible exposures at HSC, on some flights as new case of measles found
People at Health Sciences Centre ER waiting room on Monday may have been exposed, province says
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is investigating after a case of measles, unrelated to previously announced cases, was discovered in the province.
Manitoba public health officials released a list of possible exposure sites in a news release Friday and said additional locations may be added.
Measles can be life-threatening. It tends to be more severe in infants and young children.
People who were at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre emergency waiting room Monday evening or on several flights connecting to Pakistan on Feb. 26 may have been exposed to the virus, the province said.
As more contacts are identified, people may be asked to isolate and consider vaccination.
On Thursday, Canada's chief public health officer issued a statement warning about a sharp increase in the number of measles cases in the country.
Dr. Theresa Tam said Canada had recorded 227 measles cases so far this year, with many requiring hospitalizations.
The outbreak began in October, when the first person known to be infected travelled to New Brunswick for a wedding. Cases have since spread outside that province, with outbreaks in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba.
A travel-related case was also reported in Metro Vancouver shortly after Tam's statement was issued Thursday.
Tam said the majority of the cases are in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children who have been exposed during social events or at daycares, schools and other community settings.
A federal travel health notice remains in effect for all countries, with thousands of cases in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States.
Manitoba Public Health says it's unlikely people born before 1970, or who have ever received a measles vaccine, will get the disease.
But it says as precaution, anyone who was in a location where they may have been exposed and was born in 1970 or later, has never received a measles vaccine and has never had a measles infection, should reduce contact with others, get vaccinated and watch for symptoms.
People can learn about the symptoms of measles and what to do on the government of Manitoba website.