Manitoba Health has declared the province's measles outbreak over following weeks without lab-confirmed cases. The outbreak, which began in February 2025, resulted in 1,038 reported cases and 52 hospitalizations.
The Manitoba government has officially declared the end of its measles outbreak, which had persisted for nearly 20 months. The declaration was made on Friday, October 16, 2026, after public health officials confirmed that no lab-confirmed cases of the disease had been identified in recent weeks. According to the Manitoba government, the last confirmed instance of measles was reported in August.
The outbreak was first announced in February 2025. During this period, the province documented a total of 1,038 measles cases. Of these, 931 were lab-confirmed and 107 were classified as probable cases, according to provincial data.
The health impact included 52 measles-related hospitalizations. Six of those patients required treatment in the intensive care unit. The province reported that half of the patients who needed hospital treatment were younger than 10 years old. Additionally, there were 21 cases of measles in pregnant individuals and four cases of congenital measles.
No measles-related deaths were reported in the province during the outbreak. The Manitoba government noted that 87 per cent of the people who contracted the disease were either not immunized or had an unknown immunization status.
In response to the outbreak, Manitoba expanded vaccine eligibility for residents in affected areas, including Prairie Mountain Health and the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority. This allowed babies as young as six months old to be immunized early. The province stated that this temporary system is no longer in effect.
According to the province, the number of vaccines administered increased by 15 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year. Public health officials have directed parents to follow the province’s routine immunization schedule, which recommends the first dose of the measles vaccine at 12 months of age or older.
While the outbreak in Manitoba has ended, the government cautioned that measles transmission remains high in some parts of the world and outbreaks continue in the United States. The province advised residents to ensure they are fully vaccinated and to stay up to date with current public health recommendations.
The end of the outbreak marks a significant milestone for Manitoba's public health system after a prolonged period of high transmission. The data highlights the critical role of vaccination, as the vast majority of cases occurred among individuals who were unimmunized or had unknown status. With temporary early-vaccination measures now lifted, the focus shifts to maintaining routine immunization coverage to prevent future outbreaks.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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