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3w ago

North America Grapples with Worsening Measles Outbreaks

Over 1,000 cases reported in the US and 1,440 in Ontario as vaccination gaps drive exponential spread across multiple regions.

Public health nurse Lauri Bidinot demonstrates how to give a measles shot to a young girl at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins
A measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is prepared at the Andrews County Health Department in Andrews, Texas, on April 8.
Public health officials reported a measles case in Sedgwick County.
State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald gives an update on the statewide response to recent measles outbreaks during a press conference on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Overview

  • The US has recorded 1,002 measles cases in 2025, with over 800 tied to a multistate outbreak originating in West Texas and spreading to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
  • Ontario's outbreak has grown to 1,440 cases since October 2024, with nearly 200 new cases reported in the past week and over 100 hospitalizations, including eight in intensive care.
  • Alberta has surpassed 300 cases, with experts warning of exponential growth due to low vaccination rates, particularly in the southern and northern regions of the province.
  • Saskatchewan has reported 27 cases in 2025, with 15 confirmed in the past week; almost all cases involve unvaccinated individuals, including infants and school-age children.
  • Public health officials across North America are intensifying vaccination campaigns and outreach, but challenges persist in addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.