Measles Outbreaks Escalate in North America, Raising Public Health Concerns

Significant surges in measles cases in the U.S. and Canada highlight the impact of declining vaccination rates and community spread.

The U.S. is experiencing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, with two measles-related deaths reported in unvaccinated individuals.
Ontario, Canada, has recorded nearly 200 new cases in two weeks, part of a larger outbreak linked to an imported case from New Brunswick last year.
Health officials attribute the outbreaks to declining vaccination rates, worsened by vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Measles, one of the most contagious diseases, can linger in the air for hours and is preventable with the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective with two doses.
Experts warn that the outbreaks could be larger than reported due to underdiagnosed or unreported cases, particularly in unvaccinated communities.