Canada declares 6,400-case measles outbreak over, but elimination status remains lost
Canada’s Public Health Agency says the two-year measles outbreak is over after more than two months without a case linked to it; more than 6,400 cases were reported across 10 provinces and territories. Canada lost its measles elimination status in late 2025 after the same strain circulated for more than a year, and the outbreak’s end does not restore it.
Bottom line — Canada needs 12 consecutive months without transmission of the outbreak strain to regain elimination status.
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The outbreak began in October 2024, and most people who became ill were unvaccinated, the Public Health Agency of Canada said.
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Global News reports 6,417 cases linked to the outbreak, including 1,032 in 2026; separate measles cases have since been reported.
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Ontario recorded the most outbreak cases, at 2,390, followed by Alberta with 2,299 and Manitoba with 1,033, according to Global News.
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The federal agency says provincial and territorial authorities led local response measures, with national support for surveillance, laboratory testing and vaccination access.
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The Public Health Agency expects further travel-related cases because measles continues to circulate internationally.
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Global News says PAHO’s review for restoring status also requires stronger surveillance and the ability to stop outbreaks quickly.