Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Manitoba recorded dozens of new measles cases over the final days of March and into early April, as the province continues to be Canada’s hot spot for the highly contagious disease.
Between March 29 and April 4, Manitoba had 36 new confirmed measles cases and two new probable cases, data released by the province on Friday shows.
That brings the total count of confirmed and probable cases in March to 156 and 24, respectively, along with 17 confirmed cases and one probable case this month up to April 4.
With the latest update, Manitoba has recorded 429 confirmed infections and 63 probable cases so far in 2026 — more cases than in all of 2025.
There were 319 confirmed cases and 29 probable cases last year.
So far in the ongoing outbreak, 42 people have been hospitalized due to measles, including 23 children under 10. Four of the hospitalized people were admitted to intensive care.
The majority of those hospitalized — 39 people — were either unimmunized or had an unknown measles vaccination history.
No deaths related to measles have been recorded by the province.
As of March 28, cases in Manitoba accounted for about 60 per cent of the 733 confirmed cases across Canada this year, according to federal data.
New possible exposure sites
The Manitoba government has also reported more measles exposure sites.
The province reported five locations in Winnipeg that were visited by someone with measles since last weekend:
- Ray of Hope Medical Centre on Henderson Highway, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on April 4.
- St. Boniface Hospital emergency department between 10:30 p.m. on April 4 and 4:30 a.m. on April 5.
- Shoppers Drug Mart at 1128 Henderson Hwy. between 3 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. on April 5.
- Concordia Hospital’s extended hours primary care clinic between 12:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on April 5.
- Concordia Hospital urgent care from 10:30 p.m. on April 5 to 3 p.m. on April 6.
Recent exposure sites are updated on the province’s website.
The province only releases measles exposure notifications in cases where the exposure happened in the past six days, because those at risk could still benefit from preventative treatment within that window.
Measles doesn’t have a cure, and treatment instead focuses on relieving symptoms, the province says.
The first symptoms include a cough and fever, runny nose and conjunctivitis, also called pink eye. Patients usually get white spots on the inside of their mouth about two or three days later, and then a rash, which can be painful.
People with confirmed cases are infectious from four days before the rash to four days after it appears.
The disease spreads through droplets that form in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, and the virus can linger in the air for two hours.
