WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg baby has Manitoba’s first confirmed case of measles this year, provincial health officials said Tuesday.
“This is one single case, most likely not contracted in Manitoba,” Dr. Michael Routledge, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, said at a news conference Tuesday. The baby recently travelled from India.
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The baby lives in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority area and is recovering at home, he said. Health officials suspect the baby contracted the disease outside of Canada.
The baby’s contacts in Canada were limited, Routledge said, saying the risk of contracting measles in Manitoba is “extremely low.” Public health officials have already contacted those who had contact with the baby or will contact them soon. They will be offered immunization if appropriate and asked to restrict their contact with others.
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Last year, Manitoba saw its worst outbreak of measles in decades with nine cases. The disease hadn’t surfaced for several years before that, provincial health officials said.
Symptoms of the measles usually appear seven to 21 days after exposure, Manitoba Health says. Initial symptoms can include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability and runny eyes. Small white spots may also develop inside the mouth or throat. The disease’s signature red, blotchy rash appears first on the face and progresses down the body. Measles patients are most contagious four days before the rash appears until four days after.
“If you do develop measles, it’s very easy to spread,” Routledge said.
Measles is usually more severe in infants and young children and can be life-threatening. Complications include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
“Measles can be a significant disease,” Routledge said. Complications “can include death.”
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Manitoba Health offers a two-dose measles vaccine program that started in 1996. It is included in the MMR or MMRV vaccine given when a child is one year old and again at age four to six.
“We don’t see a lot of measles anymore” because of the success of the vaccination program, Routledge said. The vaccine is “extremely effective and extremely safe,” he said, adding he had his own children vaccinated.
The doctor-reported vaccination rate is in the 85 per cent range in Manitoba, he said.
“The vast majority of parents are choosing to vaccinate their children.”
Toronto public health officials are reporting several cases of measles, which appear to have been locally transmitted.
The graphic below shows measles cases in Canada over the past few years. All information came from the health authorities of the respective provinces. Click on a province to see more about its recent history with measles.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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