Canada Faces Unprecedented Measles Outbreak Amid Vaccine Hesitancy

With over 3,800 confirmed cases in 2025, mostly among children, Canada has become the epicenter of a measles outbreak in North America, driven by low vaccination rates and misinformation.

In a startling turn of events, Canada has been thrust into the spotlight as it grapples with a significant measles outbreak, marking a troubling resurgence of the virus that was once deemed eradicated. As of 2025, more than 3,800 measles cases, predominantly affecting children and infants, have been reported in the country, dramatically overshadowing the fewer than 1,300 confirmed cases in the United States.

The outbreak has especially taken hold in Alberta, now the highest for measles incidence in North America, raising questions about vaccination coverage and public health measures. While vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. has been largely attributed to influential figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Canada lacks such prominent naysayers, complicating the outbreak's origins.

Canada's ongoing battle with measles coincides with a broader increase in measles cases across North America and Europe, with the World Health Organization noting a concerning trend. Recent statistics show that the number of measles cases in the U.S. hit a 33-year peak this year, while England reported almost 3,000 cases—its highest since 2012.

Experts highlight that the lower vaccination rates among certain Canadian communities, particularly influenced by cultural and religious beliefs, contribute to the outbreak. In Ontario, measles spread rapidly through Low German-speaking Mennonite populations, where vaccination uptake has historically lagged. As healthcare worker Catalina Friesen noted, a growing skepticism towards vaccinations exacerbated the situation, fueled by anti-vaccine rhetoric that surged post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Health professionals stress that national vaccination rates are insufficient to control measles, with some regions witnessing a nearly 50% drop in the administration of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines since 2019. The current public health messaging has struggled to garner the same urgency as during the pandemic, leaving many children unprotected as routine immunization schedules falter.

As parents like Morgan Birch navigate their children's health amidst this dangerous outbreak, the cries for compliance with vaccination recommendations become ever more urgent. Kimie, Birch's daughter, exemplifies the vulnerability of younger children who cannot yet receive the MMR vaccine, further underscoring the dire need to bolster vaccination programs across the nation.

With Canada now contending with the highest measles rates since monitoring began, health officials are calling for immediate action to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure community immunity, positioning public health as a critical component in safeguarding against this preventable disease.