Parents of babies worry about measles exposure in Manitoba outbreak [Video]

Parents in Manitoba are growing more concerned as measles cases rise, and for the first time, officials have called what’s happening in the province an outbreak.

On Wednesday, the province announced 16 new cases of the highly contagious infection since last week, bringing the total for the year to 60 confirmed cases and four probable cases. Of those, 42 cases have been confirmed in May alone, according to provincial health data up to May 17.

“We are experiencing an outbreak,” provincial medical officer of health Dr. Santina Lee said Wednesday.

“We are seeing higher cases than usual, and we are seeing some ongoing community transmission,” meaning cases that didn’t have any known contact to a case either during travel or in Manitoba.

Most cases involve children who are unvaccinated, said Lee, who is also a pediatric infectious disease specialist.