Canada is still dealing with a large, complex, multi-jurisdictional outbreak of measles that started in late October 2024. The second, more severe, and wider-spread outbreak has extended across all provinces. These are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories. Health officials are calling for a reconsideration of Canada’s measles elimination status. The country has officially lost this status after more than a year of uninterrupted transmission.
As PAHO pointed out, Canada’s elimination status for the disease has recently been revoked. This announcement followed the country’s more than 12 months of unabated measles transmission. Like all measles outbreaks, the current epidemic puts those communities—often under-vaccinated communities—at risk, which have been shown to be especially susceptible to the spread of this highly contagious virus. Even given the most recent reports suggesting that transmission rates have leveled off, the outbreak is still a serious threat to public health.
Health safety officials insist that the safest and best way to prevent measles is still through vaccination. We know the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is aggressively working to stamp out the outbreak. They are laser focused on providing the necessary danger, accurate information and support to help stop the virus’s spread. The agency has reinforced the importance of Canada seeking to restore its previous measles elimination status. This would only occur after we interrupt transmission of the existing strain for at least 12 months.
In October 2025, Federal and Provincial Health Ministers from all over Canada met to discuss the new current measles outbreak. They got a briefing on the ongoing 7th Street conversion. Next, they pledged themselves to a shared effort to ensure the adoption of coordinated, complementary actions that address the crisis. These discussions included strategies for community engagement, which is crucial for rebuilding trust and ensuring effective communication with the public about vaccination and health measures.
Building trust through effective community engagement and communications has been acknowledged as a key ingredient within the response strategy. Health officials recognize that fostering relationships within affected communities can enhance vaccine uptake and ultimately help control the outbreak’s spread. As these coordinated efforts progress, health leaders remain hopeful that they can reverse the outbreak’s trajectory and restore Canada’s measles elimination status.
