BLACK mobile logo

united states

Canada loses its measles-free status, with US on track to follow

November 10, 2025

Canada has lost its measles elimination status after experiencing a continuous outbreak for twelve consecutive months, which also caused the entire Americas region to lose its collective disease-free designation. The country has reported over 5,000 measles cases in 2025, predominantly in Ontario and Alberta, with health officials attributing the outbreak to declining vaccination rates that have fallen well below the 95% threshold needed for disease prevention. Contributing factors include limited access to healthcare providers, absence of a national immunization tracking system, and widespread vaccine misinformation particularly affecting under-vaccinated communities.

Who is affected

  • Canada (lost measles elimination status)
  • The Americas region as a whole (lost collective elimination status)
  • Ontario and Alberta provinces (most cases reported)
  • Under-vaccinated communities in Canada
  • South Zone region in Alberta, including Calgary (only 68% of children under two immunized)
  • Children under the age of two
  • The United States (risks losing elimination status)
  • Utah, Arizona, and South Carolina (reporting related measles cases)
  • Mexico (experiencing surge in cases)
  • Pan American Health Organization (Paho)

What action is being taken

  • Paho officials are appealing to Canadian governments and the public to ramp up vaccinations
  • The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with Paho and regional health authorities to improve vaccine rates and strengthen data sharing

Why it matters

  • This represents a significant public health setback for Canada after three decades of being measles-free and threatens the Americas' status as the first and only region globally to achieve measles elimination. Measles is a dangerous virus that can cause pneumonia, brain swelling, and death, making the decline in vaccination rates a serious public health concern. The situation highlights systemic failures in Canada's healthcare system, including inadequate access to general practitioners, lack of a national vaccination registry, insufficient public health outreach to vaccine-hesitant communities, and the impact of misinformation. With over 5,000 cases in Canada alone (three times the US total despite a smaller population), the outbreak demonstrates how quickly disease elimination progress can be reversed when vaccination rates fall below the critical 95% threshold needed for population immunity.

What's next

  • Canada can regain its elimination status if it can curb spread of the measles strain associated with the current outbreak for at least 12 months
  • The US must stop its ongoing outbreak by January to avoid losing its elimination status

Read full article from source: BBC