On February 13, 2026, health officials alerted residents in The Pas, Manitoba, to check their immunization records as measles continues to spread across the province. Widespread community transmission has been confirmed in several southern areas, including the Rural Municipality of Thompson, with 119 cases already reported this year in the province.
The province has expanded vaccine eligibility for infants between six and 12 months old who live in or travel to high-risk regions in southern and central Manitoba. Families in The Pas who frequently visit these areas or have close contact with people from the affected southern municipalities are encouraged to seek an early dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
According to Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, this outbreak has led to 22 hospitalizations since it began in early 2025. Most of those hospital stays involved children under the age of 10, and new exposure sites have recently been identified at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg and the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
People who have not been vaccinated and believe they were exposed to the virus may be eligible for preventative treatment if it is used within six days of exposure. Residents can book vaccination appointments through the provincial health portal or by contacting local health offices in the Northern Health Region.
Health officials recommend that anyone who thinks they might have measles should call their doctor or a clinic before arriving in person to help prevent the virus from spreading to others. While the highest number of cases is currently in the south, the frequent travel between communities means families in the north should remain watchful for symptoms.
