De Salaberry Health Centre Identified as Measles Exposure Site

For the second time in as many weeks, the De Salaberry District Health Centre has been named as a measles exposure site. According to a Monday news release from Manitoba Health, the St Pierre health facility was an exposure site on Jan. 9 from 9:05 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. Anyone who was there at that time is asked to monitor symptoms until Jan. 31 and check if they’re up to date on their immunizations for the measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV). Two additional southern Manitoba locations were highlighted in the news release including sites in Plum Coulee and at Boundary Trails health Centre near Winkler and Morden. A medical clinic in Winkler was added to a subsequent release on Tuesday. Manitoba Health says symptoms of measles appear seven to 21 days after exposure. Initial symptoms can include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes. Small white spots may also appear on the inside of the mouth or throat. Several days after initial symptoms, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and progresses down the body. Measles can also lead to complications including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (brain inflammation).