The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) says it has tracked a person with contagious measles travelling out of Winnipeg on March 28, through Toronto and further on to Orlando, Fla., on March 29 and is recommending that those travelling long the same routes at that time confirm whether they or their families are at risk of exposure.
The NWHU said the infected person was at Winnipeg International Airport between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 28, then boarded WestJet Flight WS968, arriving at Toronto Pearson Airport. The person was then at the airport Hyatt Place Hotel from 3 p.m. EDT to 6 a.m. on March 29, departing on WestJet Flight WS1032 at 7:03 a.m. for Orlando International Airport Terminal B.
Those who are not immune and believe they may have come into contact with this person on March 28 were advised to monitor themselves for symptoms until April 19, those whose contact may have occurred on March 29 should do so until April 20.
“Those who are travelling to areas where measles is of concern are eligible for measles vaccination and should call the NWHU to check their records,” the health unit said in a press release. “Getting immunized, if not already immune, is strongly recommended.”
Anyone who has been exposed and is not immune (through immunization or previous measles infection), should monitor for symptoms and reduce contact with others, especially anyone who is immunocompromised or unimmunized. Measles symptoms usually appear 10 to 14 days after exposure but may appear after up to 21 days.
Those born before Jan. 1, 1970, have had two doses of measles vaccine (MMR) or have lab confirmation of immunity are considered immune and should not contact health authorities for an urgent vaccination.
Measles is spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The first symptoms of measles are a fever, a runny nose, sneezing, a cough and red, sore, watery eyes. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. A rash usually appears after two to three days and starts on the face before spreading to the rest of the body.
Ontario experienced an unusually large surge in measles in 2025, with just over 140 cases reported by late February – nearly double the province’s total from the entire previous decade. Public Health Ontario noted that most infections were still linked to travel, but increased global circulation in 2024 led to more frequent local transmission.
Across Canada, measles activity was far higher than normal. By epidemiological week 50 of 2025, the country had recorded 5,353 cases, including 4,978 confirmed and 375 probables.
Ontario has reported four measles cases so far in 2026, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, making it one of the seven jurisdictions contributing to the national total of 789 cases as of early April.
