Canada loses measles-free status after year-long outbreak

Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status after nearly 30 years, following a prolonged outbreak that persisted for more than a year. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) confirmed the decision Monday, noting the change also affects the broader Americas region.

Health officials had warned last month that Canada was at risk of losing its status. More than 5,000 measles cases have been reported across nine provinces and one northern territory since last year, marking one of the most significant outbreaks in recent history.

“This represents a setback, but it is also reversible,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, which operates under the World Health Organization. While the regional elimination certification was revoked, Barbosa emphasized that all 34 other countries in the Americas remain measles-free.

In Alberta, one of the provinces hardest hit, officials say infections have dropped sharply — with only two active cases in recent weeks and vaccination rates up 50 per cent compared to last year. Nationally, the Public Health Agency of Canada said transmission continues mainly in under-vaccinated communities.

Health experts warn that declining immunization rates, partly linked to growing vaccine hesitancy since the COVID-19 pandemic, have allowed the virus to resurface. To maintain measles-free certification, a country must end transmission within 12 months of an outbreak’s onset.