09/16/2025
Southern Health-Santé Sud Urges Public to Protect Against Measles this School Year
As families across southern Manitoba prepare for a new school year filled with learning, activities, and reconnecting with friends, Southern Health-Santé Sud is reminding parents and caregivers to protect their children and communities against measles. With classrooms, extracurriculars, and sports bringing students together in close contact, now is the perfect time to review your family’s immunizations and ensure everyone is up to date.
Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease that spreads easily in places where people gather for long periods of time, such as schools, daycares, buses, and after-school programs. It can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. Complications are more common in infants, young children, and pregnant women, and may include pneumonia, brain swelling, miscarriage, or premature birth. Because measles can spread before symptoms even appear, vaccination remains the best protection.
What Families Should do:
• Review immunization records for every household member
• Ensure children, teens, and adults are up to date with their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine
• Book an appointment with your local public health office or health care provider if vaccines are missing
• Watch for symptoms like fever, cough, or rash, especially after travel or attending large events.
Two doses of measles vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing measles infection. Children typically receive their first dose at 12 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years of age. Due to the severity of the current outbreak, Manitoba Health has expanded eligibility for the measles vaccine. Children aged 6 to under 12 months who fall into any of the following categories may receive one additional early dose:
• Living in Southern Health-Santé Sud or Interlake-Eastern regions
• Regular travel to and close contact with residents of those regions
The full list of eligibility criteria for the measles vaccine in Manitoba can be found here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/vaccineeligibility.html
For more information on measles and known exposure sites, please review the Measles general information (Low German version) and share or visit the Manitoba Health website.
Manitoba's Immunization Program: Vaccines Offered Free-of-Charge (Eligibility Criteria for Publicly-Funded Vaccines)
