Thousands of individuals who attended Canada’s largest indoor farm exhibition this year in Manitoba may have been exposed to measles, according to health officials in the province. Those who were present at Ag Days in Brandon, Man., or visited establishments in the city during the event held from January 20 to 22 are advised to monitor themselves for symptoms of the highly contagious disease. The exposure could have also occurred before or after the event at locations not specifically mentioned in the bulletin.
The annual event, which took place at Brandon’s Keystone Centre last month, attracted around 35,000 visitors and included nearly 600 exhibitors, as confirmed by Ag Days general manager Kristen Phillips. Manitoba Health informed event organizers about the potential exposure on Friday morning, urging attendees to stay vigilant and seek medical help if any symptoms manifest.
Individuals who were at the event center between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on January 20, 21, or 22 are advised to monitor for measles symptoms until February 11, 12, or 13. Attendees of an “agriculture in the classroom” event at the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Dome Building in Brandon during the same dates should also monitor themselves until the specified dates.
The province did not disclose the number of cases linked to Ag Days, but the bulletin highlighted other potential exposure sites. These include the Great Western Roadhouse at Canad Inns Destination Centre in Brandon, as well as locations in Winkler such as Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House, Boundary Trails Health Centre public health office, and Boundary Trails emergency department on specific dates in February.
Manitoba recently reported the highest monthly case count of measles since the beginning of the current outbreak early last year. With 74 confirmed cases in January, the province’s total count now stands at 393 confirmed and 37 probable cases since February 2025.
