Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): An international health body has raised alarm over a sharp rise in measles cases across the Americas, urging countries including Canada to strengthen vaccination drives and disease surveillance to prevent further outbreaks.
In an epidemiological alert issued this week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) called on governments in North and South America to “intensify” immunisation coverage and monitoring, warning that the highly contagious disease is spreading at an unprecedented pace.
According to PAHO data, Canada reported a total of 5,436 measles cases last year, including two deaths. The trend has continued into 2026, with 67 confirmed cases recorded in the first three weeks of January alone.
The alert comes “against a backdrop of a sustained increase of measles cases in 2025 compared with the previous five years,” a pattern that PAHO said appears to be carrying forward into 2026. Across 13 countries covered by the alert, health authorities have confirmed 14,891 cases and 29 deaths — a 32-fold jump compared to 2024.
Along with Canada, the countries flagged include Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the United States and Uruguay. Mexico has recorded the highest number of cases so far, with 6,428 infections and 24 deaths, followed by the United States with 2,242 cases and three deaths.
Preliminary figures for early 2026 show 1,031 measles cases reported in seven countries during the first three weeks of the year. While no deaths were reported in that short period, PAHO cautioned that the figure represents a 43-fold increase compared to the same time frame in 2025.
Health officials noted that nearly 80 per cent of those infected were unvaccinated. Teenagers and young adults account for most cases, while children aged nine and under form the second most affected group.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through respiratory droplets. Canadian public health authorities say cases in the country typically begin when unvaccinated travellers contract the virus abroad and bring it back, allowing it to spread among people who lack immunity.
There is no specific treatment for measles, and care focuses on relieving symptoms and managing complications. Officials stress that routine vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection and outbreaks. People who believe they have been exposed and are not vaccinated are advised to isolate and contact health authorities.
Early symptoms usually appear one to three weeks after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A few days later, many patients develop a red, blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Most people recover within two to three weeks, but complications such as pneumonia, ear infections and, in rare cases, brain inflammation or death can occur.
