Canada and the US Face Measles Resurgence Amid Vaccination Concerns

Fri Dec 05 2025 05:07:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Canada has lost its measles-free status for the first time in three decades, as outbreaks linked to low vaccination rates continue. The US may follow suit unless the spread is contained by January 2026.

The Pan American Health Organization (Paho) announced that Canada has officially lost its measles-free status, after a persistent outbreak fueled by declining vaccination coverage. Health officials emphasize the need for increased vaccination rates, particularly in vulnerable communities. The USA is at risk of losing its status as well, with ongoing cases reported in several states. A call to action urges governments and citizens to improve immunization efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

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 said in its statement that it is collaborating with Paho and regional health authorities to improve vaccine rates and strengthen data sharing.

Previously, 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.

The country has reported more than 5,000 measles cases in 2025, with most in Ontario and Alberta. This marks a significant increase compared to the 1,681 cases reported in the US, despite Canada having a much smaller population.

The bulk of the outbreak has been in under-vaccinated communities, according to health officials. Vaccination rates in Alberta, one of the provinces most affected, have fallen below the necessary 95% threshold.

The MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective, is crucial for combating the measles virus, known for its potential to lead to severe health complications. Canadian immunologist Dawn Bowdish notes various systemic issues have contributed to low vaccination rates, including access difficulties and misinformation.

It highlights how many of our systems broke down to get us to this point, said Bowdish. I hope that it will be a wake-up call to policymakers, and that it will be an enough of a national embarrassment that we remedy some of those systemic issues, she added.

The Americas was the first region in the world to be declared measles-free, starting in 2016, but has faced setbacks due to various outbreaks in countries including the US.

Along with Canada and the United States, Mexico has also seen a surge in measles cases, ranking among the top 10 countries with the largest outbreaks.