As I stood in the lobby of Henry G. Izatt Middle School last Wednesday, parents hurried past with worried expressions, some clutching their phones displaying the public health alert that had gone out just hours before. A mother named Jenna paused to speak with me, her voice tight with concern.
“My daughter is vaccinated, but her friend isn’t because of her immune condition,” she explained. “Now we’re all wondering who was exposed and for how long.”
Manitoba health officials confirmed last week that individuals with measles had visited multiple schools and public locations in Winnipeg between April 8 and April 17, potentially exposing hundreds to the highly contagious virus. This marks the first local measles alert in nearly two years, raising questions about vaccination rates and public health preparedness.
The exposures occurred at several key locations including Henry G. Izatt Middle School, École Charleswood School, and Westdale Junior High School in Winnipeg’s Charleswood area. Additional exposure sites included a local grocery store and the Assiniboine Park Zoo, according to a release from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Dr. Joss Reimer, medical health officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, emphasized the seriousness of the situation during our phone interview. “Measles is exceptionally contagious. Up to 90 percent of non-immune individuals can contract the virus if exposed, and it can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the space.”
What makes measles particularly concerning is its ability to spread before symptoms appear, Reimer explained. The virus typically begins with fever, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by the characteristic rash that spreads from the face downward. Complications can be serious, especially for young children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.
For many Canadians, measles feels like a disease of the past, largely due to successful vaccination campaigns. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998, meaning it no longer circulates domestically. However, cases continue to appear through international travel, with the potential to spread when they encounter pockets of unvaccinated individuals.
The current situation in Manitoba reflects a broader trend across North America. CDC data shows measles cases in the United States have already surpassed the total for all of 2023, with outbreaks linked to declining vaccination rates. In Canada, national statistics from the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program show that MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine coverage has slipped below the 95% threshold considered necessary for herd immunity in several regions.
“We’ve become complacent,” said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, in a statement earlier this year. “When we don’t see these diseases regularly, some forget why vaccines are so important.”
At Winnipeg’s École Charleswood School, I met with principal David Wall, who described the school’s response. “We immediately sent notifications to all families, activated our enhanced cleaning protocols, and worked with public health to identify students who might be at higher risk,” he said, gesturing toward the newly installed hand sanitizing stations throughout the hallway.
But Wall acknowledged the challenge schools face. “We can’t legally require students to be vaccinated in Manitoba, so we have to balance individual choice with community safety. That’s not always easy.”
Indeed, unlike Ontario and New Brunswick, Manitoba doesn’t mandate vaccinations for school attendance. Parents must simply provide immunization records or exemption forms. This policy approach has been debated by public health experts for years.
“The right to education and the right to public health protection sometimes create tension,” explained Dr. Kumanan Wilson, a public health policy researcher at the University of Ottawa. “Manitoba has chosen to prioritize education access, while trying to achieve vaccination goals through education and convenience.”
For families dealing with the current exposure alert, the wait can be anxiety-producing. The incubation period for measles ranges from 7 to 21 days, meaning exposed individuals may not develop symptoms for up to three weeks.
Rebecca Thompson, whose son attends Westdale Junior High, described her reaction to the news. “I pulled his immunization record immediately. He’s had one dose but was due for his second. Now I’m kicking myself for putting it off.”
Public health officials are encouraging anyone who was at the exposure locations during the specified times to monitor for symptoms and check their immunization status. Those who are unsymptomatic but unvaccinated may still be able to receive post-exposure prophylaxis if they act quickly.
The Manitoba response demonstrates how quickly public health systems must pivot from routine operations to outbreak response. Staff from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority have established a dedicated phone line for concerned parents and are offering expedited vaccination clinics throughout the affected neighborhoods.
Walking through Assiniboine Park, another exposure site, I observed families still enjoying the warming spring weather, though with notably fewer crowds than usual for this time of year. Perhaps the most striking aspect was how quickly this public health announcement had altered daily life—a reminder of the delicate balance between normalcy and vigilance.
As Manitoba navigates this current exposure situation, health officials emphasize that the best protection remains prevention through vaccination. The MMR vaccine is approximately 97% effective after two doses and is routinely given to children at 12 months with a booster between 4-6 years.
“Measles isn’t just a rash,” Dr. Reimer reminded me as our conversation concluded. “Before widespread vaccination, it caused hundreds of deaths annually in Canada. That history doesn’t have to repeat itself if we maintain our collective immunity.”
For now, Winnipeg families wait and watch, caught in that uncertain space between exposure and outcome—a space that grows smaller with every vaccination.
