Provincial health officials are trying to track down anyone who might have come in contact with Manitoba’s first reported case of measles this year.
A 41-year-old man living in the area of the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority was hospitalized with the disease, the province said in a news release. The man visited several locations while contagious, including:
- the Manitoba Winter Games badminton tournament in Winkler on March 7 and 8
- the 204 Volleyball and Ice Time Sports 14 and under tournament on March 8 at Monroe and John Henderson junior high schools in Winnipeg
- the University of Manitoba Bison volleyball tournament in Winnipeg on March 9
- the Victoria Hospital emergency department in Winnipeg on March 9 between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- the Selkirk General Hospital emergency department in Selkirk on March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Anyone who might have come in contact with the infected man should contact a health-care provider or phone Health Links-Info Santé at 788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.
The province introduced a two-dose measles/mumps/rubella vaccine program for children in 1996. Manitoba Health has more information on its website.
Initial symptoms of measles can include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability, red eyes, and white spots in the mouth or throat. After a few days, a red blotchy rash can appear.
Complications from the disease can include ear infections, pneumonia and brain inflammation, and can be life-threatening.
Symptoms usually appear one to three weeks after exposure, and tend to be more severe in infants and young children.
