Canada Lost Its Measles Elimination Status. What Does It Mean for the U.S.?
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status after the virus spread continuously for over 12 months, with more than 5,000 cases reported since October 2024, primarily in Ontario and Alberta.
- Declining vaccination rates, dropping from 83% in 2019 to 79% in 2021 among 7-year-olds, combined with political resistance to public health measures, especially in Alberta, have contributed to the outbreak.
- The outbreak has heavily impacted culturally conservative Mennonite communities, which historically have lower vaccine acceptance, mirroring similar outbreaks in regions like West Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico.
- Public health officials are responding with targeted vaccination campaigns, and over 130,000 measles vaccines have been administered in
