Measles Outbreak: A Concern for Some, But Not All in Winkler-Morden Area
Despite High Measles Rates, Many Residents Remain Unconcerned
In the Winkler and Morden area, where measles rates are currently high, many residents seem unbothered by the illness, according to a recent CBC News report. This is despite the fact that the Southern Health region, which includes these two Manitoba cities, has seen more confirmed cases of measles in 2026 than any other region in the country, with over 50 cases, according to Health Canada's latest data.
'I Think People Are Making a Little Bigger Deal Out of It'
Maddy Friesen, who doesn't know anyone affected, expressed this sentiment while walking outside a mall in Winkler, about 100 kilometers southwest of Winnipeg. She believes that people are overreacting to the outbreak. 'If you get it, it sucks, but what can you really do? You get it, you get better, you get the antibodies and you're good to go.'
Measles: A Topic Most People Avoid
However, not everyone in the area is as dismissive. Deputy Mayor Andrew Froese noted that life hasn't changed much for most people, except for those infected or working in healthcare. 'Honestly, I don't hear a lot of it outside of the health world. So in our everyday lives here in Winkler, there may be some conversations in the coffee shop, but it's not a common conversation, I would say, right now.'
'A Little Bit Surprised'
Froese also mentioned that people in the city generally follow public health guidelines but aren't overly concerned. 'A lot of us don't see what's going on in the hospital. We see what's going on in our workplaces or in public, and for myself, I don't see it very often. So when they report cases, I mean, sometimes we're a little bit surprised.'
'Just Sharing the Same Airspace'
Manitoba's top doctor, Dr. Brent Roussin, has identified five rural municipalities within the Southern Health Region with persistently high levels of measles transmission: Stanley, Rhineland, Thompson, Dufferin, and Roland. He emphasized the risk of transmission, stating, 'Just sharing the same airspace as someone who has measles is a risk of transmission.'
'Nobody's Effectively Immune'
Michael DePauw, from Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, about 60 kilometers northwest of Winkler, expressed concern about low vaccination rates. 'They think it should be their right to choose, but it's affecting everyone else's health, because they're making their own personal choice. But in a society that doesn't get enough immunization, then nobody's effectively immune like they should be.'
'Back in the Good Old Days'
DePauw also noted a change in vaccination practices, saying, 'Back in the good old days, everyone just got immunized at school and that was it.'
Controversy: The Role of Mandates and Restrictions
Manitoba's top doctor, Dr. Brent Roussin, stated that the province isn't using mandates or restrictions to stop the outbreak. Instead, they're relying on messaging, access, and building trust between healthcare workers and people in high-risk areas. This approach has sparked debate, with some questioning the effectiveness of such measures in controlling the outbreak.
