Measles Makes a Comeback: What Went Wrong in Canada?

After successfully eliminating measles in 1998, Canada is back to square one. The country has lost its measles-free status, meaning the virus is spreading on its own, not just from travelers.

The Situation

• Data Review: Experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reviewed the data and found that measles has been spreading in Canada for over a year.
• Regional Impact: This setback also means the entire Americas region has lost its measles elimination status, earned in 2016.
• Definition of Elimination: Measles is considered eliminated when there's no continuous spread for a year. If it spreads for more than that, it becomes endemic again.
• Outbreak Details: Canada's outbreak started in October 2024 in New Brunswick and has since spread across the country. As of November 1, there have been 5,162 cases this year alone.

Causes

• Vaccination Rates: Vaccination rates have dropped in some areas due to misinformation and anti-vaccine messages.
• Hesitancy: While most parents still vaccinate their children, there are pockets of low vaccination rates, making these areas easy targets for the virus to spread.

The Path Forward

• Regaining Status: Canada can regain its elimination status with coordinated efforts. The Public Health Agency of Canada is working with partners to improve vaccination rates and surveillance.
• Global Context: Other countries like Venezuela and Brazil have faced similar setbacks but managed to contain the outbreaks.
• Regional Outbreaks: Measles isn't just a problem in Canada. The US and Mexico are also dealing with outbreaks. Together, these three countries account for about 95% of the measles cases in the Americas, a 30-fold increase compared to last year, causing at least 28 deaths.

PAHO's Call to Action

PAHO is urging all countries to step up their efforts. They're calling for:

• Better vaccination rates
• Stronger surveillance
• Quick responses to suspected cases

The goal is to eliminate measles for good, not just temporarily.