How Canada became the centre of a measles outbreak in North America

July 21, 2025

Canada is experiencing a severe measles outbreak with over 3,800 infections in 2025, nearly three times the number in the US despite Canada's smaller population. Alberta has become the epicenter with the highest per capita measles spread rate in North America, making Canada the only Western country among the top 10 nations with measles outbreaks. The outbreak began in late 2024 when an individual contracted measles at a Mennonite gathering in New Brunswick and returned to Ontario, with cases spreading rapidly among communities with lower vaccination rates.

Who is affected

Children and infants (who make up most of the 3,800+ infected Canadians)
Four-month-old Kimie Birch, who contracted measles after a hospital visit
Low German-speaking Mennonite communities in Ontario's southwest
Unvaccinated individuals (almost all of those infected in Ontario)
Alberta residents, particularly in southern Alberta
Infants too young to receive the standard MMR vaccine

What action is being taken

Alberta has lowered the age requirement for measles vaccination in response to the outbreak
Health units across Canada are encouraging vaccination through public bulletins and radio advertisements
Mobile clinics are serving affected communities
Health officials are tracking and reporting case numbers
Doctors are monitoring patients like Kimie for potential long-term effects of the virus

Why it matters

Canada has not seen this many measles cases since the illness was declared eliminated in 1998
Measles is highly contagious and dangerous, potentially leading to pneumonia, brain swelling, and death
The outbreak reveals concerning drops in vaccination rates (nearly half in southern Alberta from 2019 to 2024)
Canada is now ranking eighth globally for measles outbreaks, the only Western country in the top 10
The situation highlights how quickly previously controlled diseases can reemerge when vaccination rates decline
Young children who are too young for vaccination are at risk due to others' decisions not to vaccinate

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC