Canada Loses Measles-Free Status: Experts Warn US Could Be Next

• The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has officially declared that Canada has lost its measles-free status , ending more than two decades of elimination success. The change follows over 12 months of continuous measles transmission , primarily in under-vaccinated communities , marking a serious public health setback for one of the world’s most developed healthcare systems.

How Canada Lost Its Measles-Free Status

• According to the Public Health Agency of Canada , while the pace of new infections has slowed, the ongoing circulation of the same measles strain for over a year disqualifies the country from its elimination certification. Canada reported more than 5,100 measles cases and two infant deaths in 2025. Experts attribute the resurgence to declining vaccination coverage , misinformation about vaccine safety , and inequitable access in rural and marginalised populations. Canada first achieved elimination in 1998 , a status lost after 27 years.

Public Health Implications

• Health experts warn that this is more than a symbolic blow. Dr. Dawn Bowdish of McMaster University called it “a national embarrassment” and a wake-up call against vaccine complacency. Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viruses , capable of causing pneumonia, brain inflammation, and pregnancy complications . The re-emergence threatens not only children’s health but also broader public confidence in immunisation programmes.

Could the United States Be Next?

• The United States , which eliminated measles in 2000 , is now facing its own challenge. Active outbreaks have been reported across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico , with nearly 900 cases and three deaths , along with smaller clusters in South Carolina and the Arizona–Utah border region . Experts warn that persistent under-vaccination could put the US at risk of losing its measles-free certification as well.

Exam Pointers

• Canada measles cases (2025): 5,100+ cases, 2 infant deaths

• Status lost: Measles-free designation after 12+ months of transmission

• US outbreak: 900+ cases across southern and border states

• Elimination year: Americas declared measles-free in 2016