Canada's Measles-Free Status Declared Over as Outbreaks Persist

Tue Nov 11 2025 00:11:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Canada has lost its measles elimination status after an outbreak persisted for over a year, leading to concerns about vaccination rates targeting under-vaccinated communities. The U.S. also risks losing its status amid rising cases.

The Pan American Health Organization has announced that Canada is no longer considered measles-free due to a sustained outbreak primarily in under-vaccinated communities. The U.S. is also at risk, facing an ongoing outbreak with reported cases in multiple states. Public health officials are calling for increased vaccination efforts, emphasizing that 95% of the population needs to be immunized to halt the disease's spread.

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 organization's director.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said in its own statement that it is collaborating with Paho and regional health authorities to improve vaccine rates and strengthen data sharing.

Prior to Monday, Canada had been declared measles-free for three decades. The country has reported more than 5,000 measles cases in 2025, with most of them in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. That is three times the 1,681 cases reported in the US, despite Canada's much smaller population.

The bulk of the outbreak has been in under-vaccinated communities, with vaccination rates in Alberta currently lower than the 95% threshold required.

Canadian immunologist Dawn Bowdish emphasized the need for systemic improvements and outreach efforts, highlighting how many health systems broke down to result in the current situation.

Measles is dangerous and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and death. The MMR vaccine is crucial in combating this viral infection.