Measles came back to Canada. What happened?
What is measles?
Measles is an illness caused by a virus, a tiny germ too small to see. It starts like a bad cold: fever, runny nose, red eyes and a cough. Then a red, blotchy rash spreads over the body. Most people get better in one or two weeks. But measles can cause lung infections, brain swelling and even blindness. In 2024, about 95,000 people around the world died from it. Most were young children.
Measles spreads very easily. The virus floats in the air and can stay in a room for up to two hours. One sick person can pass it to as many as 18 others.
Canada had measles beaten
In 1998, Canada "eliminated" measles. That means the virus was not spreading inside the country anymore. From 1998 to 2024, Canada had about 91 cases a year, on average.
Then one case started a long chain
In October 2024, a person in New Brunswick got measles after catching it outside Canada. It spread from person to person across the country. If the same virus spreads in a country for 12 months in a row, the country loses its "eliminated" status. On November 10, 2025, Canada lost it.
The outbreak lasted about two years. More than 6,400 people got sick in 10 provinces and territories. Two babies died. Most people who got sick had not had the measles vaccine.
Is it over?
On October 19, 2026, the Public Health Agency of Canada said the outbreak was over. But Canada gets its status back only after 12 months in a row with no spread of that virus. And travellers can still bring measles in from other countries.
What stops measles?
Two doses of the measles vaccine. To stop measles from spreading, about 95 out of every 100 people need to be protected. In 2025, around the world, only 77 out of 100 children got both doses. Measles gets in through that gap.
Not sure if you had two doses? Ask a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or your local public health office, especially before you travel.
Sources
- Public Health Agency of Canada. Multi-jurisdictional measles outbreak is over October 19, 2026.
- Public Health Agency of Canada. Measles and rubella weekly monitoring report
- World Health Organization. Measles fact sheet
- CIDRAP. Canada loses measles elimination status after record year of outbreaks November 10, 2025.
- CTV News. Measles outbreak over after 2 years, thousands infected in Canada October 19, 2026.
- UNICEF and WHO. Global childhood immunization coverage inches forward despite conflict and hesitancy July 2026.
