Canada has lost its measles elimination status, said the Pan American Health Organization (Paho) on Monday, after failing to curb an outbreak of the virus for 12 consecutive months. Because Canada is no longer deemed measles-free, the Americas region as a whole has lost its elimination status, although individually the other countries are still considered to have stamped out the disease.
The US, however, risks losing its status as well if it does not stop an ongoing outbreak by January. Related cases have now been reported in Utah, Arizona and South Carolina. Canada's outbreak began last October, with health officials attributing it to fewer people being vaccinated against measles.
At a news conference on Monday, Paho officials appealed to Canadian governments and the public to ramp up vaccinations, noting that 95% of the population needs to be immunised to stop the spread of measles. This loss represents a setback, but it is also reversible, said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, the health organisation's director.
The Public Health Agency of Canada stated it collaborates with Paho and regional health authorities to improve vaccine rates and strengthen data sharing. Prior to this announcement, Canada had been declared measles-free for three decades. It can regain its elimination status if it curbs the spread of the measles strain associated with the current outbreak for at least 12 months.
Canada has reported more than 5,000 measles cases in 2025, with most in Ontario and Alberta, three times the 1,681 cases reported in the US despite Canada's smaller population. Public health officials point out that the outbreak has primarily affected under-vaccinated communities, highlighting alarming vaccination rates below the threshold in provinces like Alberta.
Experts are concerned about systemic issues. Canadian immunologist Dawn Bowdish identified factors such as limited access to healthcare, misinformation, and insufficient public health outreach to vaccine-hesitant communities as contributing to low vaccination rates. The current situation emphasizes a need for action at the policy level to address these breakdowns in health systems.
The Americas region was the first to be declared measles-free in 2016, though status was briefly lifted after outbreaks in Venezuela and Brazil, which regained their status through coordinated vaccination efforts. However, measles has resurfaced now in North America, with Mexico also nearing the top rankings of countries with significant outbreaks.
The US, however, risks losing its status as well if it does not stop an ongoing outbreak by January. Related cases have now been reported in Utah, Arizona and South Carolina. Canada's outbreak began last October, with health officials attributing it to fewer people being vaccinated against measles.
At a news conference on Monday, Paho officials appealed to Canadian governments and the public to ramp up vaccinations, noting that 95% of the population needs to be immunised to stop the spread of measles. This loss represents a setback, but it is also reversible, said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, the health organisation's director.
The Public Health Agency of Canada stated it collaborates with Paho and regional health authorities to improve vaccine rates and strengthen data sharing. Prior to this announcement, Canada had been declared measles-free for three decades. It can regain its elimination status if it curbs the spread of the measles strain associated with the current outbreak for at least 12 months.
Canada has reported more than 5,000 measles cases in 2025, with most in Ontario and Alberta, three times the 1,681 cases reported in the US despite Canada's smaller population. Public health officials point out that the outbreak has primarily affected under-vaccinated communities, highlighting alarming vaccination rates below the threshold in provinces like Alberta.
Experts are concerned about systemic issues. Canadian immunologist Dawn Bowdish identified factors such as limited access to healthcare, misinformation, and insufficient public health outreach to vaccine-hesitant communities as contributing to low vaccination rates. The current situation emphasizes a need for action at the policy level to address these breakdowns in health systems.
The Americas region was the first to be declared measles-free in 2016, though status was briefly lifted after outbreaks in Venezuela and Brazil, which regained their status through coordinated vaccination efforts. However, measles has resurfaced now in North America, with Mexico also nearing the top rankings of countries with significant outbreaks.
