**Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status Amid Growing Outbreak**
Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status, meaning the highly contagious disease is once again spreading consistently throughout the country. This declaration was made by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), an international health agency, according to a statement released Monday (Nov. 10) by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
After reviewing recent epidemiological and laboratory data from Canada, PAHO concluded that the same measles strain has circulated within the country for over a year. For an infectious disease to be considered “eliminated” from a region, there must be no endemic transmission for at least one year.
**Understanding Endemic Transmission**
“Endemic transmission” refers to the consistent, sustained spread of a disease within a particular population. This differs from sporadic cases, which might occur when an infected traveler imports a disease from elsewhere.
In July, PAHO noted a 29-fold increase in measles cases in the Americas in 2025 compared with 2024. At that time, Canada reported the highest number of cases among the countries assessed, with 3,170 cases documented between January and July.
**Current Outbreak Status in Canada**
As of late October, Canada had reported more than 5,100 measles cases this year, including 4,777 confirmed cases and 361 probable ones. These cases have appeared across 10 regions: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories.
This year’s cases mark the continuation of a large, multijurisdictional outbreak that first began in October 2024, according to the PHAC statement. “While transmission has slowed recently, the outbreak has persisted for over 12 months, primarily within under-vaccinated communities,” PHAC officials said.
**Efforts to Control the Outbreak**
Currently, PHAC is collaborating with PAHO and working alongside federal, provincial, territorial, and community partners to:
– Improve vaccination coverage
– Strengthen surveillance efforts
– Provide evidence-based guidance to affected communities
Canada could regain its elimination status if transmission of the measles strain associated with the current outbreak is interrupted for at least 12 months.
**Measles Situation in the United States**
Meanwhile, the United States, which eliminated measles in 2000, has experienced a similar recent surge in cases. Texas has been the hardest hit state this year, followed by Arizona, New Mexico, and Kansas.
According to the latest data, nearly 1,700 measles cases have been reported across the U.S. so far in 2025, up from 285 cases in all of 2024.
The Johns Hopkins U.S. Measles Tracker emphasizes the critical role of vaccination: “Measles vaccination is the best way to prevent measles and stop outbreaks. Unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status represent almost all reported measles cases” in the country this year.
**Vaccination Challenges and Future Outlook**
Despite ongoing scrutiny of the childhood vaccination schedule under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been vocal on vaccine issues, measles vaccination recommendations have largely remained the same.
However, measles vaccination rates in the U.S. have been falling to concerningly low levels in recent years. Models predict that if current vaccination rates remain steady, measles may become endemic in the U.S. within 20 years. This scenario could result in approximately:
– 851,300 cases
– 170,200 hospitalizations
– 2,550 deaths
over the next 25 years.
Moreover, measles can cause a range of long-term health complications in survivors, which would likely increase if the disease becomes endemic.
If vaccination rates decline further rather than remain steady, the models project even worse outcomes.
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**Conclusion**
The resurgence of measles in Canada and the United States underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage and effective public health measures to prevent the return of this once-eliminated disease. Public health agencies continue to urge individuals to ensure they and their communities stay protected through timely vaccination.
https://www.livescience.com/health/viruses-infections-disease/canada-has-lost-its-measles-elimination-status-heres-what-that-means
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