Canada loses its measles elimination status — as it happened

The Pan American Health Organization has notified the Public Health Agency of Canada that Canada no longer holds measles elimination status, says Health Canada. The health agency says that while 'transmission has slowed recently, the outbreak has persisted for over 12 months.'

Canada has lost its measles elimination status, the Public Health Agency of Canada says.Since the fall of 2024, Canada has recorded more than 5,000 measles cases in nine provinces and one territory.Canada can re-establish its measles elimination status once the current outbreak is interrupted for at least 12 months.An infectious disease expert calls the loss of status "a giant wake-up call that we have gaps in our public health infrastructure."