public health warning

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…