Please read the media bulletin below from Manitoba Health

February 6, 2026

Measles Update #76

Public health officials with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care are notifying the public of new measles exposure sites in Brandon and southern Manitoba.

Anyone who attended Ag Days in Brandon, visited hotels, restaurants and shops should monitor for symptoms until Feb. 13. Possible exposures may have occurred in the city on the event days, on the days leading up to it and the days following it, beyond the locations listed.

Anyone at these locations on the specified dates and times is asked to monitor for symptoms until the identified dates:

• Manitoba Ag Days, Keystone Centre, Brandon:
  • Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 11.
  • Jan. 21 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 12.
  • Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 13.
• Great Western Roadhouse, inside the Canad Inns Destination Centre, 1125 18th St., Brandon on Jan. 20 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 11.
• Manitoba Ag Days, Agriculture in the Classroom event at the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Dome Building, Unit 1-A, 1200 13th St., Brandon:
  • Jan. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 11.
  • Jan. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 12.
  • Jan. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 13.
• Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House, 777 Norquay Dr., Winkler, on Feb. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 23.
• Boundary Trails Health Centre public health office, near Winkler, on Feb. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 24.
• Boundary Trails Health Centre emergency department, near Winkler, on Feb. 3 from 7 p.m. to Feb. 4 at 1:10 a.m. Monitor for symptoms until Feb. 26.

Public health is also asking anyone who was at these locations during the specified times to check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date with measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV).

For individuals who were exposed at these locations and were born in 1970 or later, and have never received a measles vaccine and have never had a measles infection:

• Measles vaccine is recommended.
• Reduce exposures with others, especially anyone who has a weakened immune system or is unimmunized, from the fifth day after exposure to the 21st day after the latest exposure.
• Watch for symptoms of measles until the date that corresponds with their situation as indicated above.
• Certain people should not get the measles vaccine including infants less than six months of age, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. These individuals should contact their health-care provider or public health as they may be eligible for preventative treatment (within six days of exposure).
• Close contacts may be asked by public health to isolate and consider vaccination.

Further information on measles, exposures and immunization is available at www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/measles.html or individuals can contact Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 toll-free in Manitoba.

Symptoms of measles generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure. Initial symptoms may include fever, runny nose, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes. Small white spots may also develop on the inside of the mouth or throat. Several days after the initial symptoms, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and progresses down the body. Measles can lead to complications including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (brain inflammation).

If symptoms develop, individuals who may have been exposed are advised to isolate at home and contact their health-care provider and advise them of the potential exposure to measles. Anyone else in the household who is unimmunized should limit exposure to others until the symptomatic person has received advice from their health-care provider. It is best to call ahead so health-care staff can take steps to reduce the exposure of other people to the virus.

Measles is a highly infectious communicable disease that is spread through droplets in the air formed when coughing or sneezing. An infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears until four days after. The disease tends to be more severe in infants and young children and can be life-threatening.

Immunization is the only means of protecting people from contracting measles. Contact an immunization provider such as a local public health office, physician or nurse practitioner to ensure everyone is up to date.

In Manitoba, a two-dose measles vaccine program for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR or MMRV) is routinely provided for children who are at least one year of age and again when aged four to six. In the case of a measles exposure, a second dose may be given earlier than four to six years of age. There is also an outbreak eligibility for some children aged six months to under 12 months. The complete eligibility criteria can be viewed at: www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/vaccineeligibility.html#MMR.

Public health officials will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updated information as necessary. The number of measles cases in Manitoba will be updated weekly on the measles webpage each Friday.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.

Manitoba Ag Days enters its second decade of investing in rural communities and agriculture education through the
Ag Days Gives Back program. 100% of the funds raised through the Manitoba Ag Days 50/50 are used to support K-12
ag education, post secondary ag education and community organizations throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
This represents a commitment of $536,000 since the program’s inception in 2013.

Our seventeen 2026 Community Grant Recipients were awarded to community fire departments around Manitoba
and SE Saskatchewan. Each fire department was awarded $2000 toward the completion of their project. Cranberry
Portage Volunteer Fire Department, Winnipegosis Fire Department, Ashern Fire Department, Cartwright-Roblin Fire
Department, Elgin Fire Department, Clanwilliam Erickson Fire Rescue, Prairie Lakes Ninette Fire Department, Miniota
Fire Department, Oak River Fire Department, Belmont Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Lake-Sifton Fire Department,
Woodworth Fire Department, Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department, Asquith Fire Dept., Plumas Fire Department, Swan
Lake Fire Department and Somerset Fire Department.

This year we introduced a NEW way to give back, with a cost sharing program to get AEDs into fifteen more
community spaces. Treherne Kinsmen Club, Helping Hands Brandon, Ste. Rose School Playground Project, Turtle
Mountain Flywheel Club, Wheat City Lawn Bowling Club, Oakdale Senior Housing Inc., Lakeland Regional Library
Killarney, Brandon Regional Search & Rescue Association, Benito & Area Drop In Centre, Richer Community Club Inc.,
St. Paul’s United Church, Sandy Lake Recreation Association, Oakland Recreation Club, Sandy Lake Lions Club and the
Riverdale Early Learning Centre Inc. each received an AED as part of a cost share program!

The Ag Days Gives Back scholarships are available to individuals pursuing any post secondary education and training
related to agriculture. The recipients of the 2026 Ag Days Gives Back Scholarships of $2000 each were Evan Whetter,
Laine Vandersteen and Morgan Debenham.

Manitoba Ag Days also awarded the Education and Leadership Grant in the amount of $15,000 to Agriculture in the
Classroom – Manitoba. This funding supports the AgVenture programming that brings students to Manitoba Ag Days
for a hands-on learning experience.

Applications for the next round of Ag Days Gives Back grants and scholarships will open in the fall and be awarded at
the 2027 show, which runs from Tuesday, January 19 – Thursday, January 21, 2027. A huge thank you goes out to
everyone who supported the 50/50 at the 2026 show. The 2026 jackpot was $193,910 which means the winner Gary
Kenning took home $96,955. Kenning, who farms near Stonewall, told Office Manager Brittany Cousins that he plans
to use the winnings towards the purchase of a planter!

For more information or the latest updates please visit https://www.agdays.com/ or follow us on Facebook, X,
Instagram and TikTok @mbagdays.

For all media inquiries please contact:
Teresa Hildebrand – Media Coordinator at (204) 526-0574 media@agdays.com
OR
Kristen Phillips, Manitoba Ag Days General Manager at (204)728-4137 coordinator@agdays.com

Innovation Showcase Winners are Leading the way in Agriculture
The Innovation Showcase at Ag Days 2026 featured twenty-eight new products or services in seven
categories. “Farmers really want to see what is new and how it might work for them. They like the
opportunity to see products first hand and ask specific questions.” said Dwayne Leslie, Manitoba Ag Days
Innovation Showcase Committee Chair. First place Winners receive $500 and a $1000 advertising credit,
while Runner Ups receive $250 and a $500 advertising credit.

The 2026 Winners and Runner Ups are:
Ag Technology – sponsored by AgCanada
● Farm Shop Connect by Farm Shop Connect

Ag Machinery Repair records and task management Software

● WEED IT Dash by WEED IT Canada

Weed IT DASH

Agribusiness Services – sponsored by CountryGuide
● Frictionless Fertilizer Market by ClearCost

Frictionless Fertilizer Market

● Women’s Agricultural Workwear by AgPro Workwear Inc.

Women’s Agricultural Workwear

Agricultural Equipment – sponsored by Ag Dealer
● CornerStone Planter Ready Row Unit by North Valley Precision Planting

CornerStone Planter Ready Row Unit

● Spray Drone Tender by Farm & Sky Tech Ltd.

Spray Drone Tender

Agronomics – sponsored by Manitoba Co-operator
● CG P2X by Taurus Ag Marketing

CG P2X

● Convey Prime X by ATP Nutrition Ltd.

Convey Prime X

Animal and Livestock – sponsored by Canadian Cattlemen
● Feed Eazy Pro 3020 Tub Grinder by Kanpar / Allagparts

Feed Eazy Pro 3020 Tub Grinder

Farm Built Solutions – sponsored by The Western Producer
● PGA Automated Auger Sampler by Prairie Grain Analyzer

PGA Automated Auger Sampler

● Sunmill Solar Aeration by Farm Fresh Water

Sunmill Solar aeration

Farm Safety – sponsored by Grainews
● Fence Mower by R-Tech Industries

Fence Mower

● The Drawhand by Implement Solutions

The Drawhand

Manitoba Ag Days is proud to announce that Best in Show at Ag Days 2026 is awarded to Degelman
Industries Ltd. Best in Show is given to an exhibitor who exemplifies exhibitor excellence; this includes registering during registrtation, following move in instructions, being a good neighbour, utilizing every square inch of space available, showcasing their display in an attractive way, working with show management and most importantly following all fire regulations.

Registration for the Innovation Showcase for Ag Days 2027 will open August 4 – August 18th, along
with general exhibitor registrations. Showcase contenders are featured in the show publication and
online; this is a great way to get in front of your target audience. If you have an innovative product or
service to bring to market, #agdays27 is the place to do it! Watch for registration details at
agdays.com or on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok @mbagdays.

The Western Producer and the Manitoba Co-operator are the presenting sponsors of the Innovation
Showcase at Manitoba Ag Days. Each of the 7 categories is sponsored by one of Glacier FarmMedia’s
brands. Thank you to Ag Dealer, The Canadian Cattlemen, Grainews, CountryGuide and AgCanada for
being such strong supporters of Ag Innovation in our industry.

For all media inquiries please contact:
Teresa Hildebrand – Media Coordinator at (204) 526-0574 media@agdays.com
Kristen Phillips, Manitoba Ag Days General Manager at (204)728-4137 coordinator@agdays.com