Measles risk requires responsible response

“Manitoba, for whatever reasons they may be, has this high rate of measles. If you’re attending events and not vaccinated, and you’re not feeling well, please don’t come in. Be conscious of other people, think of other people.” – Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett

With the opening of this year’s Royal Manitoba Winter Fair just days away, Manitoba public health officials are warning the public about the risk of exposure to the highly-infectious measles virus while attending the annual event in Brandon.

That concern is far from hypothetical, as those officials point out that dozens of persons who attended the three-day Ag Days event in January were infected with measles while present at that gathering. The doctors fear that the infection levels at the six-day winter fair could match or even exceed those that occurred at Ag Days, and are urging those who are considering attending the fair to reflect on the potential risk of doing so.

That reflection should include the recognition that the latest data from the federal government show that Canada has already had more than 500 confirmed and probable cases of measles this year, with more than 300 of those infections having occurred here in Manitoba. That makes our province the national epicentre of the outbreak, providing all the more reason to take precautions to both protect ourselves and our families, and to prevent the illness from continuing to spread.

Those precautions begin with the knowledge that measles is a highly contagious disease that is characterized by a red, blotchy rash. It can result in serious illness or death, and is spread through close personal contact with an infected person or through microscopic droplets that become airborne when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

That means that well-attended events such as Ag Days, the winter fair, hockey games, concerts, shopping malls and other public gatherings are prime potential infection sites for the disease. It also points to the unfairness, however, of provincial officials communicating their concern on the winter fair, yet remaining largely silent about similar risks arising from attending events such as Winnipeg Jets games and concerts at various venues.

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair has been an important part of Brandon’s identity, culture and economy for more than a century. It is one of only two fairs in Canada to receive a royal designation and has been named one of North America’s top 100 events, earning widespread acclaim in both the tourism and agriculture sectors.

Given what the winter fair has meant to our city and region for so long, it is a shame to see provincial officials characterize the event as the potential site of a future “superspreader” event. It would be an even greater shame, however, if those concerns turn out to be prescient.

That brings us back to the advice spoken by Mayor Jeff Fawcett earlier this week, set out above. The Brandon Sun has been a longtime supporter of the winter fair, but we echo the mayor’s advice that if you’re not vaccinated for measles and you’re not feeling well, do the responsible thing. Think about the serious risk posed by your illness to the health of others, especially children, and stay away from the winter fair and any other place or event where members of the public are in attendance.

Or, better yet, get vaccinated. Since its widespread introduction more than 60 years ago, the measles vaccine has been proven to be both safe and effective in preventing measles infection. By being vaccinated, you can help to ensure that the winter fair continues to be the safe, fun and worry-free event it has always been.