Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status, Virus Declared Endemic

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced Monday that Canada has lost its measles elimination status, marking a significant setback in the global fight against the highly infectious virus. The determination was made by a committee of PAHO experts, who spent last week poring over disease data to assess the measles status of countries across the entire region. The fact that Canada has lost its elimination status means that the region of the Americas overall has also lost the status, which it achieved in 2016. According to Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of PAHO, "This decision was not taken lightly, and we recognize the significant efforts made by Canada to control measles outbreaks in recent years. However, the data clearly indicates that the virus is now spreading endemically in the country." Dr. Etienne emphasized that the loss of elimination status is a reminder that measles remains a significant public health threat globally, and that continued vigilance and investment in vaccination efforts are essential to controlling its spread. Canada is currently the only country in the region where measles is considered to be spreading endemically, although other countries, including the US and Mexico, are headed in the same direction. Measles is considered eliminated when a country can go 12 months without continuous local spread. Sporadic cases brought in from international travel can continue to occur, potentially causing limited outbreaks. However, elimination is lost and endemicity is declared when the virus begins to spread continuously within a population. The loss of measles elimination status in Canada is a significant setback for the region, which had made significant progress in controlling the virus in recent years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Americas were declared measles-free in 2016, a milestone that was achieved through concerted efforts by governments, health organizations, and civil society to increase vaccination coverage and improve disease surveillance. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted vaccination efforts and created an environment in which measles can spread more easily. "The pandemic has created a perfect storm for measles to spread," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US. "We need to redouble our efforts to ensure that people are vaccinated against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases." The loss of measles elimination status in Canada has significant implications for public health policy and practice in the country. Health officials are urging Canadians to get vaccinated against measles and to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, such as practicing good hygiene and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. The PAHO committee will continue to monitor the situation in Canada and provide guidance to governments and health organizations in the region to support efforts to control the spread of measles. In the meantime, the global community must remain vigilant and continue to invest in vaccination efforts to protect against the spread of this highly infectious and potentially deadly virus.