Question Period Note: Measles in Canada

N/A

• The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the number of cases of measles worldwide was 79% higher in the first two months of 2022 compared to the same timeframe in 2021.
• Vaccination is a safe and effective protection against measles. Measles is rare in Canada, thanks to vaccination, but this is not the case in all countries.
• We will continue to provide Canadians with reliable information about vaccination and promote vaccination to protect Canadians from serious illnesses.

If pressed
• While vaccination is not mandatory in Canada, the Government of Canada is committed to vaccination as a safe and effective public health measure that can prevent disease and disability.
• Provincial and territorial governments deliver vaccination programs and determine public health requirements in their jurisdictions.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by the measles virus. Measles is spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. It is a leading cause of death among young children globally.
Measles has been eliminated in Canada since 1998. In July 2022, the National Certification Committee re-verified Canada’s elimination status for measles, rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) for the 2020-2021 period. There was notable measles activity in the Region of the Americas in 2021, specifically in Brazil where over 650 cases were reported.
Measles is relatively rare in Canada due to effective vaccination programs. However, it is important that Canadians continue to be vaccinated against measles given the travel-related risks of infection and spread to unvaccinated people.
Measles is a notifiable disease in all provinces and territories (P/Ts). When a healthcare provider diagnoses a case of measles, notification is also made to the respective jurisdictional public health agency. This helps P/Ts implement measles prevention and control strategies as quickly as possible.
There is no specific treatment for measles. Individuals with measles should self-isolate during the infectious period to prevent infecting others. People should talk to their health care provider if they think they have measles.
Measles Outbreaks Nationally and Internationally
As of November 1, 2022, 3 cases of confirmed measles cases have been reported in Canada in 2022. All 3 cases were imported. In Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic, very few measles cases were reported (one in 2020 and zero in 2021). In recent pre-pandemic years, an average of 62 measles were reported between 2017 and 2019 (ranged from 29 to 113 cases).
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides monthly updates on the measles situation in the U.S. As of October 28, 2022, there have been 33 confirmed measles cases in 5 jurisdictions this year. Since 2016, multiple large-scale measles outbreaks have been reported across Europe, with almost all European countries reporting measles cases by 2017. According to the World Health Organization, there was substantial decrease in measles incidence and associated mortality worldwide during 2000–2016, followed by a global resurgence during 2017–2019, then an apparent decline in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this decline, millions more children were susceptible to measles at the end of 2020 than in 2019.
Mandatory Vaccination in Schools
Vaccination is not mandatory in Canada; however, some P/Ts, including British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick, require proof of vaccination for measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in order to register in public schools.
Federal Role
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) works with P/Ts in the management of outbreaks of VPDs by providing technical advice and assisting with laboratory testing when requested by a P/T. P/Ts and local public health are responsible for delivering public health programs, including vaccination programs and investigation and follow-up of measles cases and outbreaks.
The federal government has a role in regulatory approval of vaccines, vaccine safety, national surveillance for VPDs and adverse events following vaccination, bulk purchasing of vaccines, national leadership, and coordination in knowledge development, innovation, and sharing of best practices.
Each week, PHAC receives measles surveillance data from P/Ts and reports cases to the Pan American Health Organization. Weekly measles surveillance reports are publicly available on the Canada.ca website.
Measles Vaccination Coverage Rates
PHAC estimates vaccine coverage through the Childhood National Immunization Coverage Survey, conducted every two years. The latest survey completed in 2019 estimated that 90% of Canadian children had received at least one dose of measles vaccine by two years of age. This is below the 95% coverage target for measles vaccines.

• Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there had been an increase in the number of confirmed measles cases reported in Canada between 2017 and 2019, which coincides with the global trend of the disease.
• No confirmed measles cases were reported in Canada between March 2020 and February 2021, due to a combination of domestic measles elimination through vaccination and no importation of international cases as a result of COVID-19 border restrictions.
• As of November 1, 2022, three (3) confirmed measles cases were reported in Canada. All 3 cases were imported from outside the country and were travel-related.