Sask. Health Authority warns of measles exposure in Swift Current

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is warning the public of a measles virus exposure in Swift Current.

On Friday the health authority confirmed one case of of the highly infectious disease in the city. 

It is advising anyone who was at the Cypress Regional Hospital between Friday, March 7 and Monday, March 10, or at the E.I. Wood Building entrance, elevator and fourth floor on the afternoon of Thursday, March 6 to monitor themselves for symptoms.

Symptoms of the measles virus include fever, coughing and a runny nose. More overt symptoms are small, white spots inside the mouth and throat, and a red blotchy rash that develops on the face about three to seven days after symptoms begin. 

The health authority is advising residents to call HealthLine811 if they were present at any of the possible outbreak locations and are experiencing measles symptoms. They can also call a physician or nurse practitioner and tell them they might have been exposed. 

If symptoms worsen, residents are advised to call 911 or go to an emergency room, again identifying that they have been exposed.

The measles virus is highly contagious. It can be transmitted through a person touching their face after contacting a contaminated surface, or through breathing contaminated air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can live up to two hours in the air or on surfaces after contact.

Measles is very rare in Saskatchewan. In 2024 the Saskatchewan government reported only a single case in the province, following four years of zero cases.