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yesterday

Canada Reaches 12 Months of Measles Transmission, Faces Loss of Elimination Status

Regional health authorities will review Canada’s status next week, with a corrective vaccination and surveillance plan expected if certification is revoked.

A person walks past a measles screening sign near an entrance at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario on July 9, 2025. Canada, which officially eradicated measles in 1998, has recorded more cases of the virus this year than any other Western country, according to World Health Organization figures updated this month.
"Measles Alert" signs at the Taber Health Centre in Alberta on Oct. 27, 2025.
Coverage with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been declining in the US and Canada for years, with notable dips after the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Overview

  • More than 5,000 cases have been confirmed since October 2024, including two infant deaths following in‑utero infection.
  • The outbreak began in New Brunswick and spread across multiple provinces, with Alberta reporting the highest per‑capita burden and roughly 2,000 cases since March.
  • Ontario has reported 2,375 cases and declared its provincial outbreak over on Oct. 6, yet national transmission continues in undervaccinated pockets, including some Mennonite communities.
  • Experts cite declining MMR coverage since 2019, pandemic‑related disruptions and misinformation as key drivers, with herd immunity requiring about 95% vaccination.
  • PAHO’s commission meets in early November to assess Canada’s status, with a decision expected in December, while the U.S. remains under scrutiny as ongoing state outbreaks could trigger a review if spread continues into January.