Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status Amidst Resurgent Outbreaks
Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status, with the virus now endemic again, following over 5,000 cases and two deaths in 2025, as confirmed by the World Health Organisation.
Overview
- Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status, a designation previously held, due to a resurgence of the virus across the country, making it endemic once more.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed this significant change in status, highlighting the ongoing public health challenge posed by the measles outbreaks.
- Over 5,000 measles cases have been reported in Canada during 2025, indicating a widespread transmission that contributed to the loss of its elimination status.
- Tragically, these outbreaks have also resulted in two reported deaths, underscoring the severe health risks associated with the re-emergence of measles.
- A committee of experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) meticulously analyzed disease data to determine Canada's current measles status, leading to this critical reclassification.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Canada's loss of measles elimination status as a significant public health defeat, directly attributing the resurgence to "vaccine misinformation and potent rhetoric from anti-vaccine activists." They emphasize the urgent need for renewed vaccination efforts and collective action, portraying the situation as a critical setback that demands immediate reversal across the Americas.
"This loss represents a setback, of course, but it is also reversible."
ARS Technica"The loss of the country’s measles elimination status comes more than a year after the highly contagious virus started spreading."
Chicago Tribune"This loss represents a setback, but it is also reversible."
BBC NewsArticles (4)
Center (3)
FAQ
Canada lost its measles elimination status because sustained endemic measles transmission was confirmed to have circulated in the country for over 12 months, with over 5,000 cases reported in 2025 and ongoing outbreaks primarily in under-vaccinated communities.
More than 5,138 measles cases have been reported in Canada during the 2024-2025 outbreak, resulting in two deaths and at least 375 hospitalizations.
Among those infected, 88% were unvaccinated, 2% had one dose of the vaccine, 5% had two or more doses, and vaccination status was unknown for 5%.
PAHO convened a special Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination Regional Monitoring and Re-Verification Commission, which analyzed epidemiological data from November 4 to 7, 2025, and determined that endemic measles transmission had been reestablished in Canada.
Yes, Canada can regain its measles elimination status by interrupting the transmission of the measles strain associated with the current outbreak for at least 12 months through sustained vaccination efforts and public health measures.
History
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