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By Julia Lovett-Squires

Measles exposure

Measles exposure risk in N.Battleford and Saskatoon

Mar 27, 2025 | 3:19 PM

If 10 people are in a room that previously had a person in the infectious period of measles and had coughed in it, nine of those people would become infected.

The disease, one of the most contagious in the world, has come to North Battleford.

“This case was…confirmed last night,” Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu, medical health officer with Saskatchewan Health Authority during a media webinar.

He explained for confidentiality reasons, he wouldn’t speak too much about the patient.

“Only to say that this person did not receive any measles vaccine, and the other important detail is that the acquisition was outside the province of Saskatchewan, but still within Canada.”

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The public service announcement was issued earlier Thursday after the case of measles appeared last week.

According to the public notice, there were multiple locations in North Battleford and Saskatoon from March 20 to 24 where the exposure took place, and the SHA is asking that anyone who was the areas listed at the end of this article should watch out for telltale symptoms fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, fatigue, irritability, Koplik spots (small white spots inside the mouth and throat) and a red blotchy rash on the face and body that can last up to seven days.

Dr. Nsungu said that the infectious period begins four days before the onset of the rash and four days after and thus the reason for the potential exposure locations.

“One important thing to know when it comes to measles is that it is not just a droplet transmission, but it is also what we call an airborne transmission,” the doctor said.

“It means that the small particles containing the measles virus can stay suspended in the air up to two hours.”

It can also be spread indirectly such as touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face or mouth.

Currently, there are three confirmed cases in Saskatchewan – one of them in the north and Nsungu said at the moment, they are working on contact tracing and have yet to have any suspected cases.

Throughout Canada, Ontario has confirmed 100 new cases within the last week bringing the total up to 572 cases, meanwhile Quebec has less than 50 and Alberta less than 20.

“This is mainly due to the declining measles vaccination rate as well as to international travel,” he said of the outbreaks.

At this time, the SHA doesn’t have statistics on whether there has been an increase in vaccination and will reach out to the Ministry of Health.

“Why is it we’re more concerned now?” Dr. Nsungu asked. “If you have a population or community, which is under immunized, and you have one or more cases of measles in that community, the likelihood of measles being transmitted very easily in that community is much higher,” he said referring to those communities with a higher vaccination rate.

According to the SHA, not only is the measles vaccine which is comprised of two doses nearly 100 per cent effective, is safe and free. Once immunized, the chances of contracting and spreading the disease are slim to negligible.

“It has happened that some people who are vaccinated had the disease, that can happen with a certain number of infectious diseases,” he said.

“In that case then what we know is that the disease is expected to be mild.”

In regards to the patient, they began isolating a few days ago after presenting with symptoms.

Here are the following locations of exposure listed from the SHA:

North Battleford

• River Valley Eye Care: Thursday, March 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Gold Eagle Casino: Saturday, March 22, from 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
• Shoppers Drug Mart in Frontier Mall: Sunday, March 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tim Hortons by Frontier Mall: Sunday, March 23, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Splish Splash Auto and Pet Wash: Sunday, March 23 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Battleford Union Hospital – Emergency Department:
  • Sunday, March 23 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, March 24 from 2 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
  • Monday, March 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saskatoon

• Smiley’s Buffet and Catering (702 Circle Dr, Saskatoon): Friday, March 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Queen Nails & Spa Confederation Mall (300 Confederation Dr #46, Saskatoon): Friday, March 21 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Play Toon Indoor Playground (331 60th Street, Saskatoon): Saturday, March 22 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop (831 51st Street Unit 70, Saskatoon): Saturday, March 22 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tim Hortons (709 Circle Dr E, Saskatoon): Saturday, March 22, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Value Village (2115 Faithful Ave, Saskatoon): Saturday, March 22, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• HomeSense (3047 Clarence Ave S, Saskatoon): Saturday, March 22 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Those who were exposed are asked to call the Public Health Office in North Battleford at (306) 446-8635 in advance to set up an appointment in order to reduce chances of exposure.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social