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4w ago

Measles Cases Across North America Surpass 2,500, Crossing Borders and Straining Public Health

Three deaths in the U.S. and one in Mexico highlight the toll of interconnected outbreaks linked to vaccination gaps and cross-border mobility.

A health worker prepares a dose of the measles vaccine in shopping mall in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)
A health worker stamps a vaccination card at the health center where measles vaccinations are given in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)
A health worker gives a child a measles vaccine at the health center in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)

Overview

  • North America's three largest measles outbreaks have exceeded 2,500 confirmed cases, with 1,020 in Ontario, 663 in West Texas and New Mexico, and 38 in El Paso, Texas.
  • Cross-border spread is evident, with 14 cases reported in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and four linked cases in Michigan traced to Ontario's outbreak.
  • Mennonite Christian communities migrating between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico have been identified as a key factor in seeding these outbreaks.
  • Genetic analyses confirm that the viral strains in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are interconnected, indicating importation and inter-country transmission.
  • Public health efforts, including vaccination campaigns, are underway to address the resurgence, driven by vaccination rates falling below the 95% herd immunity threshold.