Rural hospitals might buckle under the pressure if measles spread continues: doctor – CBC
Most would not have room to isolate patients suffering the airborne disease
Feb 13, 2026
If the measles outbreak continues to get worse, rural health-care facilities in southwestern Manitoba might not have the capacity to house all the sick, according to a Neepawa family physician.
“These illnesses are very contagious and are airborne,” Dr. Nichelle Desilets said, adding, “I don’t know about every facility, but my hospital sure doesn’t have a whole lot of space to separate and isolate people who are feeling unwell.”
More than 30 new cases of the measles have been directly traced to Ag Days, a three-day indoor farm show held in Brandon in mid-January, including 12 confirmed cases on a single day, Feb. 9.
Until recently, Desilets says, she had never seen measles first hand, but learned about it in medical school.
