Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status Amid Rising Cases Across the Americas

Canada has lost its measles elimination status, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced today, as cases of the highly contagious virus surge across North and South America.

The PAHO confirmed the loss of status in a press briefing yesterday, noting that setbacks are reversible and citing previous instances in Venezuela and Brazil in 2018 and 2019. “This loss represents a setback, of course, but it is also reversible,” said Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) stated it is already working with PAHO and partners to improve vaccination coverage and surveillance efforts. Measles is particularly dangerous for young children and those with compromised immune systems.

To date in 2025, the United States has reported at least 1,618 measles cases, while Mexico has tallied at least 5,185, with ongoing outbreaks also reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Belize. PAHO has collected reports of 12,593 confirmed cases from 10 countries, with approximately 95 percent concentrated in Canada, Mexico, and the US – a 30-fold increase compared to 2024. The outbreaks have tragically resulted in at least 28 deaths: 23 in Mexico, three in the United States, and two in Canada. You can learn more about measles symptoms and prevention from the World Health Organization.

Barbosa emphasized the importance of renewed efforts to strengthen vaccination rates and timely response to suspected cases, stating, “Every case we prevent, every outbreak we stop saves lives, protects families, and makes communities healthier.” PHAC is collaborating with federal, provincial, territorial, and community partners to regain elimination status, building on the success of regional measles elimination efforts previously achieved in the Americas.

Officials are calling on all countries in the region to redouble their efforts to combat the spread of measles and protect vulnerable populations.