Manitoba declares end to provincewide measles outbreak

Public health officials in Manitoba have declared the provincewide measles outbreak over, noting that no new laboratory-confirmed cases have been identified since August. The outbreak, which began in February 2025, resulted in a total of 1,038 documented cases, consisting of 931 confirmed and 107 probable cases.

Data indicates that 87 per cent of those affected were either not immunized or had an unknown immunization status. The outbreak led to 52 hospitalizations, including six intensive care admissions, with half of the hospitalizations involving children under the age of 10. There were also 21 cases in pregnant individuals and four cases of congenital measles, though no deaths were reported.

At its peak in May 2026, Manitoba led the country in reported cases, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all cases in Canada. Officials noted that increased vaccination rates during the outbreak period helped curb the spread of the virus, with approximately 15 per cent more Manitobans receiving the measles vaccine in 2025 compared to 2024.