Question Period Note: Measles Outbreaks in Canada

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KEY MESSAGES
• The current and ongoing measles outbreak started with an internationally imported case and exposure at a wedding in New Brunswick in October 2024. The outbreak has resulted in cases being reported in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
• The majority of cases linked to this outbreak are from under-vaccinated communities.
• The measles virus lineage associated with this outbreak is now circulating in the Americas. Many of the affected communities have strong international ties and travel frequently to other communities with low vaccination coverage.
• Measles vaccination is highly effective in limiting transmission and preventing severe outcomes. With measles cases rising worldwide and in Canada, staying up to date with routine vaccinations remains critical for individual protection and to help prevent outbreaks in our communities.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is actively monitoring recent increases in measles detected worldwide, as well as supporting provinces and territories as needed with new cases in Canada.
IF PRESSED
Q1: If pressed on vaccination
A1:
• Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious health complications including deafness, brain injury, and death. Fortunately, the measles vaccine is very effective at preventing infection and severe outcomes.
• Over the past fifty years, successful measles vaccination programs in Canada have played a crucial role in eliminating measles circulation in Canada.
• The Government of Canada encourages people of all ages to ensure they are up to date on routine vaccinations, including measles.
Q2: If pressed on vaccination – NACI recommendations
A2:
• The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that routine immunization for children 12 months to less than 13 years include 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine, using either MMR or MMRV vaccine, which are highly effective at preventing infections.
• Measles vaccines can be given as early as 6 months of age for children travelling outside of Canada where the disease is of concern, or for children living in or travelling to locations experiencing outbreaks (including within Canada).
Q3: If pressed on federal role
A3:
· The federal government has a role in regulatory approval of vaccines, national surveillance for adverse events following vaccination, bulk purchasing of vaccines, national leadership, and coordination in knowledge development, innovation, and sharing of best practices.
Q4: If pressed on federal role – role of PHAC
A4:
· PHAC works with provinces and territories in the management of outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases by providing technical guidance and advice, laboratory confirmation and characterization, coordinating multijurisdictional outbreak response, including international collaboration, and responding to requests for assistance from provinces and territories.
· PHAC updated its Guidance for the public health management of measles cases, contacts, and outbreaks in Canada in May 2025. The document has been shared with provinces and territories to support ongoing outbreaks within their jurisdictions and is available on Canada.ca.
· Each week, PHAC receives measles surveillance data from P/Ts and reports cases to the Pan American Health Organization. Weekly national measles surveillance reports are published on the Canada.ca website.
· PHAC conducts ongoing efforts to enhance the public's knowledge about vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases, including what to do if exposed to or infected with measles, build public confidence in vaccines, and address the rising challenge of mis and disinformation.
Q5: If pressed on elimination status
A5:
· Measles has been eliminated in Canada since 1998 and this status is evaluated annually.
· In November 2024, the Regional Verification Commission re-verified Canada’s elimination status for measles, rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) for the 2023-2024 period.
· If domestic chains of transmission continue for a year or more, Canada will lose measles elimination status.
· A risk assessment conducted by PHAC was published on July 31, 2025 and concluded that the likelihood of prolonged measles spread in Canada is high, placing Canada at risk of losing its measles elimination status.
· Canada is engaged with WHO/PAHO and public health partners across the country to discuss elimination status and the process of re-verification, should it be necessary.

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• Selon les données en date du 12 septembre 2025, 5 385 cas au total ont été signalés à l’ASPC liés à une éclosion particulière touchant plusieurs administrations qui a débuté en octobre 2024 et qui se poursuit.

• De façon générale, le risque demeure plus élevé chez les personnes non vaccinées (93 % des personnes atteintes n’étaient pas vaccinées ou leurs antécédents de vaccination n’étaient pas connus) et chez les enfants (71 % avaient moins de 18 ans).

• Au Canada, il y a eu un décès lié à l’épidémie en cours, qui a été signalé par l’Ontario. Il s’agissait d’un cas congénital de rougeole chez un enfant né prématurément et présentant d'autres problèmes médicaux sous-jacents.

• Selon les résultats de la dernière Enquête sur la couverture vaccinale nationale des enfants, réalisée en 2021, le pourcentage d’enfants de deux ans ayant reçu une dose d’un vaccin à composant antirougeoleux était de 91,6 % et le pourcentage d’enfants de sept ans ayant reçu deux doses était de 79,2 %. Cependant, de récentes données provenant de cinq provinces et territoires indiquent une baisse de la couverture vaccinale chez les enfants, notamment de la couverture vaccinale contre la rougeole, de 2019 à 2023. Par ailleurs, il existe au Canada des collectivités insuffisamment vaccinées où le risque d’éclosion de rougeole est plus élevé.