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.