Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status, health authorities confirmed yesterday, following a year-long resurgence of the disease, primarily among unvaccinated groups.
Canada had been declared measles-free in 1998, a milestone achieved through consistently high childhood vaccination rates. However, an outbreak that began in eastern Canada in October 2024 has spread nationwide, with Mennonite communities—who often refuse vaccination on religious grounds—being among the hardest hit.
To date in 2025, 5,138 cases of measles have been reported, with Ontario and Alberta seeing the highest numbers. Tragically, two newborns born to unvaccinated mothers have died from the virus.
Health Canada said it was officially informed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that Canada no longer maintains measles elimination status. PAHO cited “sustained transmission of the same measles virus strain in Canada for more than one year” as the reason.
Provincial health ministers are coordinating strategies to build trust in vaccines through community engagement, Health Canada said. While transmission has slowed recently, the outbreak persists primarily in under-vaccinated communities.
Experts point to declining two-dose vaccine coverage, which fell below the 95% threshold needed to stop sustained measles transmission. “The spread of the virus in under-vaccinated groups is a clear signal of system fragility,” said Samira Jeimy, from Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine.
Health officials emphasize that infections are not limited to Mennonite groups. Cases have also been reported among new immigrants from developing countries, who may have missed vaccinations due to factors like doctor shortages or disruption in healthcare access.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus spread through droplets from coughing, sneezing, or breathing. It causes fever, respiratory symptoms, and rash, but can also lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death.
PAHO noted that Canada is now the only country in the Americas to lose measles elimination status, though several other countries, including the United States, are experiencing active outbreaks. In 2025, the US reported over 1,600 confirmed cases, its worst outbreak in more than three decades.
Vaccine hesitancy continues to pose challenges across North America. A recent Washington Post poll found one in six American parents has delayed or skipped childhood vaccines, and 9% have refused polio or MMR shots. Debunked claims linking vaccines to autism, promoted by public figures including US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have fueled resistance.
