Measles exposure reported in Regina

WATCH: With cases of measles and possible exposures jumping in the past week, the SHA is encouraging people to get vaccinated. Jacob Carr has more.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is warning of yet another measles exposure – this time at several locations within Regina.

The following locations are affected:

Regina Open Door Society (2314 11th Avenue)

• Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Friday, May 2, 2025, from 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Walmart East Location (2150 Prince of Wales Drive)

• Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

BarBurrito (4938 Gordon Road)

• Monday, May 5, 2025, from 9:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Alliance Health Medical Clinic (Sure Health) (4936 4th Avenue)

• Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

According to the SHA, the warning was released due to a case of the virus being confirmed. If you attended any of the above locations during the specified times, the SHA advises you to monitor measles symptoms for up to 21 days after exposure.

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Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, fatigue, irritability, small, white spots in the mouth and throat (Koplik spots) and a red blotchy rash which develops on the face and spreads down the body about three to seven days after symptoms begin and can last four to seven days.

The announcement comes a day after the SHA announced an exposure in the community of Preeceville. Previous cases have been reported in Rosthern, North Battleford, Saskatoon and Swift Current.

Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab says the province is now part of an unprecedented measles outbreak.

According to Shahab, 27 cases of measles have been reported since mid-March - with 15 of those cases occurring in the last week.

Most of the infections involve children and all but one case involves unvaccinated residents. There have been two hospitalizations due to the virus.

The health authority reiterated that vaccinations are the only way to prevent measles and is encouraging those who haven’t had their two doses to get them.

“Because they’re unvaccinated and because measles is so contagious, a single case can impact up to 20 unvaccinated people. And we know that the current outbreak started from a single wedding in New Brunswick. And so, this will continue as long as people remain unvaccinated,” Shahab said on Thursday.

Shahab added that people born before 1970 are generally considered immune, while those born after 1970 need two doses of the measles-containing vaccine. He said there are many common misconceptions about the measles vaccine but is adamant that it has been used effectively for five decades.

“We should not be seeing measles in 2025. That we are seeing some outbreaks in specific communities as if it was the 1950’s means that the social contract of keeping each other safe and protected is broken.”

-With files from The Canadian Press and Jacob Carr