Southern Health-Santé Sud is recommending that infants who are not eligible for the measles vaccine and may have been exposed to the virus be assessed for a preventative treatment.
Dr. Mahmoud Khodaveisi, Medical Officer of Health with Southern Health-Santé Sud, says children in Manitoba typically receive two doses of the measles vaccine.
“One dose at 12 months, and the second dose is between four and six years of age. But because of measles cases we have, Manitoba Health expanded eligibility for one additional measles vaccine for infants between six months of age to 12 months of age.”
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Preventative option for infants under six months
Infants under six months of age are still not eligible for the measles vaccine. However, Dr. Khodaveisi says a preventative treatment may be available if they have been exposed to the virus.
He explains that the treatment is called post-exposure prophylaxis.
“Immune globulin is like a medicine made from donated human blood that contains high levels of measles antibodies. If an infant is exposed to a measles case in the last six days, then we can recommend immune globulin. It’s effective if we can give it as soon as possible, but it’s likely not effective after six days.”
Rising measles cases in Manitoba
In January and February 2026 alone, the province reported 248 confirmed and 36 probable measles cases in Manitoba. That total is just 64 cases fewer than the number reported during all of 2025.
For comparison, from January 2000 to December 2024, only 18 measles cases were confirmed in Manitoba.
Dr. Khodaveisi says that across the province, 30 infants under the age of one have contracted measles. Within Southern Health-Santé Sud, 11 infants have been recommended immune globulin treatment.
He adds that parents should contact Southern Health-Santé Sud or their primary care provider as soon as they learn their infant may have been exposed to measles.
Importance of vaccination around infants
Dr. Khodaveisi also stresses the importance of ensuring people around infants are fully vaccinated.
“Parents or guardians should ensure that all household members or those who have close contact with the infants are fully immunized. This condition creates a protective environment around the infant.”
He says this is especially important because infants are among the most vulnerable to complications from measles.
“They are more at risk for complications like pneumonia, infection of the brain, hospitalization, admission to ICU, et cetera. So, it can be prevented if other people around the infants are immunized, then there’s less chance that the infant be infected with measles.”
A full list of measles symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention can be found on the Southern Health-Santé Sud website.