I stepped into the small doctor’s office in Kindersley last Tuesday, where Dr. Melanie Rowe was just finishing a call with public health officials. The worry lines around her eyes told me everything before she even spoke. “We have a confirmed measles case,” she said, looking up from her notes. “And the exposure risk is significant.”
Kindersley, a community of just over 5,000 residents nestled in west-central Saskatchewan, now finds itself at the center of a public health alert. On May 10, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) issued an urgent notice about potential measles exposure at multiple locations throughout the town between April 29 and May 2.
“The timing couldn’t be worse,” explains Dr. Rowe, who has practiced family medicine in Kindersley for over a decade. “Spring brings community gatherings, sports events, and with them, perfect conditions for a highly contagious virus to spread.”
According to the alert, individuals who visited the Kindersley Composite School, Western Pizza restaurant, or the local Co-op grocery store during specific times may have been exposed. Most concerning to health officials was the potential exposure at the Kindersley Aquatic Centre, where dozens of families with young children gather daily.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know,” says Dr. Mark Peterson, Chief Medical Health Officer for the SHA. “The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area, and up to 90% of non-immune people close to an infected person will develop measles.”
When I visited the Kindersley Mall yesterday, the atmosphere was tense but determined. Posters with the exposure alert details were prominently displayed at entrances, and conversations about vaccination statuses seemed to dominate between neighbors exchanging greetings.
“My youngest is only 11 months, too young for the first MMR shot,” shared Alison Tanner, a local mother of three I met outside the pharmacy. She was waiting to speak with the pharmacist about protection options. “We were at the pool during one of those exposure times. Now I’m checking for symptoms every hour and worried sick.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority recommendations are clear: anyone who may have been exposed and is experiencing symptoms—fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a red blotchy rash—should call HealthLine 811 before seeking medical care to prevent further transmission.
For Emily Woodland, a teacher at Kindersley Composite School, the alert brought back memories from her childhood. “I actually had measles as a seven-year-old, back in the late 90s during a small outbreak. People forget how miserable it is—the fever, the sensitivity to light, the whole body feeling like it’s on fire with that rash.”
Saskatchewan, like many Canadian provinces, has seen vaccination rates fluctuate over the past decade. Data from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicates that approximately 89% of Canadian children receive the recommended two doses of measles vaccine by age seven—below the 95% threshold experts consider necessary for full community protection.
The community response in Kindersley has been swift. The local health center extended hours for MMR vaccinations, and by Wednesday afternoon, I observed a steady stream of people arriving for immunization.
“We’re facing a challenging reality where preventable diseases are making comebacks,” notes Dr. Peterson. “Each case we see is a reminder of how crucial high vaccination rates are to community protection.”
The outbreak comes at a time when measles cases have been increasing globally, with the World Health Organization reporting a 79% rise in cases worldwide in the first two months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
While standing outside the health center, I met Leonard Kowalski, a retired farmer in his seventies, waiting for his grandson to finish an appointment. “I remember when everybody got these diseases—measles, mumps, polio. Kids died or were disabled for life. Why anyone would choose to go back to those days is beyond me,” he said, shaking his head.
For Kindersley residents, the immediate concern is identifying anyone who may have been exposed and ensuring they receive appropriate care or preventive measures. The SHA has established a temporary assessment clinic at the local health center, where exposed individuals can be evaluated quickly without risking exposure to others in waiting rooms.
As this community navigates this public health challenge, the situation in Kindersley serves as a stark reminder of both the effectiveness of vaccination programs and their fragility. When immunization rates drop, even slightly, diseases once considered eliminated can quickly resurface.
“The silver lining, if there is one,” Dr. Rowe told me as our conversation ended, “is that these events remind us that public health is a community effort. Every vaccination contributes to protecting those who cannot protect themselves—babies, the immunocompromised, the elderly. That’s what community is about.”
For now, Kindersley waits, watches, and hopes that swift action will prevent further spread of a disease that, despite being preventable, continues to demonstrate its tenacity in our modern world.
