Where are the latest measles exposure risks in Saskatchewan?

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Following the third confirmed case of the measles in the province, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is notifying the public of exposure risks in two cities. Here is what you need to know …

WHERE ARE THE EXPOSURE RISKS?

According to the SHA, exposure risks in North Battleford are:

• River Valley Eye Care: March 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Gold Eagle Casino: March 22 from 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
• Shoppers Drug Mart in Frontier Mall: March 23 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tim Hortons by Frontier Mall: March 23 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Splish Splash Auto and Pet Wash: March 23 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Battleford Union Hospital’s emergency department: March 23 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., March 24 from 2 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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SHA identified exposure risks in Saskatoon as:

• Smiley’s Buffet and Catering (702 Circle Dr.): March 21, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Queen Nails & Spa Confederation Mall: March 21, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Play Toon Indoor Playground: March 22, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop (831 51st Street): March 22 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tim Hortons (709 Circle Dr. East): March 22, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Value Village (2115 Faithful Ave.): March 22, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• HomeSense (3047 Clarence Ave. South): March 22, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“The exposure risks resulted from a confirmed case,” the SHA said in a statement. “Individuals who were at any of (the listed) locations during these time periods should monitor themselves closely.”

Last week, Saskatchewan confirmed its second case and said it was investigating a third.

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HOW CONTAGIOUS ARE MEASLES?

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. The World Health Organization says the virus can remain active in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours.

It usually begins with a fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes, followed by a red blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body and limbs. The virus can lead to pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and death.

HOW BAD ARE OUTBREAKS IN CANADA?

Public Health Ontario says there have been 572 cases since the outbreak began in October, 453 of them confirmed and 119 probable. Of the 42 people requiring hospitalization, two have required intensive care, and 36 have been children — most of them unvaccinated. The highly infectious disease is still predominantly impacting unvaccinated infants, kids and teenagers.

Almost all of the cases in Ontario are tied to a multi-jurisdictional outbreak that began with a travel-related case in New Brunswick that spread to Ontario and Manitoba. Ontario’s medical officer of health sent a memo to colleagues in local public health units earlier this month stating the origin of the outbreak was at a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick last fall.

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Dr. Kieran Moore said cases are “disproportionately affecting some Mennonite, Amish, and other Anabaptist communities due to a combination of under-immunization and exposure to measles in certain areas.”

Outbreaks are also being monitored in other provinces, though the case counts are smaller — including in British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta where 18 people are diagnosed, most of them minors. The latest numbers in Quebec are unchanged at 40 cases since last week.

The number of cases reported in Ontario over the last week is more than the number of cases recorded over the course of a decade between 2013 and 2023.

WHAT ABOUT IN THE U.S.?

In the United States, this year there have been 378 confirmed cases recorded across 18 jurisdictions, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from last week.

— With Saskatoon StarPhoenix files

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