Winnipeg computer student creates interactive Manitoba measles map

A Manitoba student has created a map using provincial data to help track measles outbreaks in the province.

A Manitoba student has created an interactive map tracking measles exposure sites and vaccination data in the province.

Jack Buchholzer, who is in his final term of RRC Polytech’s application development and delivery program, came up with the idea after hearing about Manitoba’s rising measles numbers on the news.

He logged onto the Manitoba Health website to learn more and found the data listed on a series of tables, divided by region.

He decided to plot it onto a map to help visualize the cases of the virus, be it probable or confirmed. He then overlaid vaccination data on top.

“You can see different areas where there are more exposures and how it correlates to the vaccination coverage,” he told CTV News.

He also added a timeline feature that draws a line from each exposure site day-by-day, as they were reported.

With a little help from AI to bring the site to life, the whole project came together in under two hours.

He made the map available to the public and free to use.

Buchholzer hopes it will give Manitobans more clarity on the ongoing measles rise in the province.

“It was just kind of for myself to understand and it felt like a useful tool for the public, so I just kind of got it out there and I’ve gotten good feedback,” he said.

- With files from CTV’s Scott Andersson