Manitoba health officials warn that man with measles was at sports tournaments

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WINNIPEG–Manitoba health officials are warning that a case of measles has been detected in the province and that the man with the highly contagious disease attended several public places.

The patient, a man in his 40s, lives in the Interlake area and is currently in hospital.

He attended a badminton tournament in Winkler, Man.

, on March 7 and 8; a volleyball tournament in Winnipeg on March 8 and 9; and visited the Victoria Hospital emergency department in Winnipeg on March 9 and the Selkirk hospital’s ER the next day.

Officials say the disease tends to be more severe in infants and young children, and can be life-threatening.

Measles is spread through droplets in the air formed when coughing or sneezing.

Initial symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes.

Small white spots may also develop on the inside of the mouth or throat.

Measles can lead to complications including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis.

The province says measles activity has also been detected in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, “mostly related to ongoing outbreaks in the Philippines and the Netherlands.”

(CTV Winnipeg)