Overview
- PAHO notified Canada on November 10 that the elimination designation was withdrawn due to sustained transmission of the same strain for over a year.
- Public health authorities link ongoing spread to under-vaccinated communities, with disproportionate impact reported in some Mennonite, Amish and other Anabaptist groups as well as recent immigrants.
- The circulating virus has been identified as genotype D8, a wild-type strain still found in countries where measles continues to circulate.
- Ontario and Alberta recorded the largest burdens with roughly 2,392 and 1,944 cases respectively, while several other provinces reported smaller outbreaks.
- Canada can regain the designation only after 12 consecutive months without transmission of the current strain, and vaccination campaigns are underway to raise two-dose coverage.