Alberta health authorities are reporting a single active case of measles as of this week, marking a dramatic decline from the province's significant outbreak earlier in the year which saw more than 2,000 confirmed infections.
From Outbreak to Isolated Case
The province's Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services confirmed the lone active case is located in the north region. This comes after an epidemic that began in March 2025 and resulted in Alberta recording thousands of measles cases over the subsequent months.
Officials noted a sharp and sustained drop in new infections. "Alberta has seen a sharp drop in measles cases, with only one or two new cases a day for over three months. Hospitalizations have been extremely low, with no more than five individuals hospitalized at any time," a government statement read. The statement also clarified that the province's outbreak originated from more than a dozen separate introductions of the virus from outside Alberta.
Vaccination Drive and Exposure Locations
A major public health vaccination campaign is credited with helping curb the outbreak's spread. Between March 16 and December 13, 2025, more than 156,000 measles vaccines were administered. This represents a substantial 41 percent increase in uptake compared to the same period in 2024.
The increase was even more pronounced in zones with historically lower vaccination rates:
- South Zone: 72% increase in vaccinations.
- North Zone: 64% increase in vaccinations.
Most cases during the outbreak were recorded in the north and south regions, often in smaller communities with lower vaccination rates. In contrast, the major urban centres recorded far fewer cases: Calgary had 43 cases and Edmonton had 52.
The most recent public exposure notice was for the emergency department at the St. Paul Healthcare Centre in St. Paul, Alberta. In Calgary and Edmonton, the last reported exposures occurred on November 22 and December 3-4, with monitoring periods extending until December 15 and 25, respectively.
National Repercussions and the Path Forward
The widespread Canadian outbreak, fueled in part by Alberta's cases, had international consequences. The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) revoked Canada's measles-free status as a result. To regain this status, Canada must demonstrate no transmission of the same measles strain for at least one full year.
Alberta health officials emphasize that efforts to promote vaccination and vigilantly monitor for new cases are ongoing. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus and is typically more severe in infants and adults over the age of 20.
