Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status as Nationwide Outbreak Persists — 5,138 Cases and Two Infant Deaths

Canada loses measles elimination status after year-long resurgence

Health officials announced on Monday that Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status after more than a year of sustained transmission of the same virus strain. The outbreak, which began in eastern Canada in October 2024, has since spread to multiple provinces and demographic groups.

Scope and impact

So far in 2025, Canada has recorded 5,138 confirmed measles cases, with Ontario and Alberta the hardest hit. Two newborns — both born to unvaccinated mothers — have died during the outbreak. Health Canada said it was notified by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that the country no longer meets the criteria for elimination because the virus has circulated continuously for more than one year.

Who is affected

Public-health officials say the outbreak has been concentrated in under-vaccinated communities. Certain Mennonite Christian groups that decline routine childhood vaccinations on religious grounds have experienced major outbreaks. Pediatricians also report cases among newly arrived immigrants who missed routine immunizations after settling in Canada, in part because an acute shortage of family doctors has made follow-up care and vaccination more difficult for some families.

Why elimination status was lost

Experts, including Samira Jeimy of Western University's Schulich School of Medicine, say the loss of elimination status is tied to falling vaccine coverage. Jeimy told AFP that two-dose vaccine coverage dropped below the 95% threshold considered necessary to prevent sustained measles transmission. The concentration of cases in under-vaccinated pockets has been described by specialists as a visible sign of gaps in the immunization system.

Official response

Provincial health ministers are discussing coordinated measures, emphasizing community engagement to rebuild trust and increase uptake of the two-dose measles vaccine schedule. Health Canada noted that while overall transmission "has slowed recently," the outbreak persists primarily in under-vaccinated communities.

About measles

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus spread by droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. It typically causes high fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a characteristic rash, but can also lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation) and death — particularly in infants and immunocompromised people.

Regional context

In a regional update, PAHO confirmed Canada is currently the only country in the Americas to lose measles elimination status, though several other countries, including the United States, are facing active transmission. The United States experienced its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years in 2025, with over 1,600 confirmed cases.

Public-health experts say rising vaccine hesitancy and the spread of misinformation have contributed to lower coverage in some areas. High, equitable vaccination coverage and targeted community outreach remain the primary tools to halt transmission and restore elimination status.

Key takeaway: Restoring two-dose measles coverage through culturally sensitive community engagement and improved access to primary care will be essential to controlling the outbreak and recovering elimination status.