As of November 10, Canada has lost the status of being a measles‑free country, a title it obtained in 1998.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), this is because the same measles outbreak that started in October 2024 is still ongoing. It has provoked more than 5,000 cases and two deaths across 10 jurisdictions. The vast majority (88 %) of measles infections have occurred among unvaccinated people.Indeed, measles is a highly contagious illness, and it is spreading again all over the world. In the European Union, 35,000 cases have been reported since 2024, and in the United States—where it was officially eliminated in 2000—it is making a comeback due to rising vaccine hesitancy and growing clusters of under‑vaccinated communities.
Intrigued? Click through to learn how measles spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and how to stay protected.