International health experts say Canada has lost its measles elimination status after authorities documented ongoing outbreaks and sustained transmission across North and South America. The virus has been circulating continuously in Canadian communities for more than a year, according to the review.
So far this year Canada has reported 5,138 measles cases and two deaths; both fatalities were infants who had been exposed to the virus in utero and were born prematurely. Measles typically begins with a high fever and is followed by a distinctive rash that first appears on the face and neck. While most people recover, measles remains a leading cause of death among young children and can lead to serious complications — including blindness and swelling of the brain — particularly in young children and adults over 30. The disease is preventable with a routinely administered, safe vaccine.
Jennifer Nuzzo, an infectious disease expert at Brown University, said the loss of elimination status is “deeply disheartening,” calling it both worrisome and embarrassing for a country with Canada’s resources. Canada first achieved measles elimination in 1998; the United States followed in 2000. After major vaccination campaigns, the Americas were declared measles-free in 2016. Health officials estimate vaccination prevented 6.2 million deaths in the Americas between 2000 and 2023, but coverage has since fallen below the roughly 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.
Large outbreaks in Venezuela and Brazil in 2018–2019 stripped the region of elimination, which it regained in 2024; the status has now lapsed again with Canada’s recent loss. Experts from the Pan American Health Organization concluded the virus has circulated uninterrupted in Canada for a year. PAHO director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa noted the region has eliminated measles twice before and said it can be done again.
Canadian health officials say they are working with federal, provincial and community partners to raise vaccination coverage, improve data sharing and provide evidence-based guidance to control transmission and restore elimination status.
