More measles exposures reported in Regina, Lumsden

WATCH: The Saskatchewan Health Authority is warning residents of measles exposure risks in Regina and Lumsden.

The province is warning the public of more measles exposures in Regina along with Lumsden in April and May.

According to the province, anyone who was at the following locations on the specified dates and times should monitor themselves for measles symptoms for 21 days after the potential exposure.

The latest announced Regina exposure sites are Ellis Pools and Construction and Jesus The Anointed One Church.

Ellis Pools and Construction (1135 Pettigrew Ave.):

• Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 2, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Jesus The Anointed One Church (42 Birchwood Ave.):

• Sunday, May 4, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In Lumsden, the province says the exposure site was the Subway and Esso C-Store on Highway 20 on Saturday, May 3 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.

The province says those who may have been exposed should call HealthLine 811 if they are unvaccinated or are unsure of vaccination status for measles or develop measles symptoms.

Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, fatigue, irritability, small white spots inside the mouth and throat and a red blotchy rash that develops on the face and spreads down the body about three to seven days after symptoms begin, the province said.

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“Measles is highly contagious. It can spread very easily to others through the air. The virus can live up to two hours in the air or on surfaces in a space where a person coughed or sneezed. It can spread from four days before a rash appears until four days after a rash develops. Through this period, a person needs to stay in strict isolation to avoid spreading the infection to others,” the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said in a news release.

The SHA says the measles vaccine is nearly 100 per cent effective with two doses and is safe and free of charge.

“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.”

More information can be found here.

- With files from Jacob Carr