Canada has officially lost its measles-free status more than a quarter-century after eliminating the virus, according to recent health authority reports. This significant public health development comes as ongoing measles outbreaks continue across nine provinces and the Northwest Territories.
Quebec's Measles Situation
While Canada overall has lost its measles-free designation, Quebec's Health Ministry confirms the province has maintained its measles-free status since April. The ministry announced that Quebec's measles outbreak officially ended on April 19, 2025, with no new cases reported since that date.
Marie-Pierre Blier, spokesperson for the Quebec Health Ministry, provided crucial details about the situation. The last new measles case reported in Quebec dates back to March 18, 2025, marking the conclusion of the provincial outbreak that began in late 2023.
Timeline of Quebec's Measles Cases
Quebec recorded its first measles cases in October 2023, marking the first instances since before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Health Canada's monitoring data, measles hadn't been recorded in the country since 2019 before these cases emerged.
The two initial 2023 cases involved unvaccinated young children who acquired the infection while traveling to Canada from measles-endemic countries. Federal health authorities noted that both children first developed characteristic measles rashes during their overseas flights to Canada.
The outbreak gained momentum in 2024, with Quebec recording its first case that year in an unvaccinated infant. Health Canada reports this case was epidemiologically linked to a previously reported travel-related case. Another March 2024 case was connected to travel from Morocco.
The outbreak peaked in March 2024 with 25 new cases reported during that single month. Many affected individuals were unvaccinated children under one year old who were not yet eligible for vaccination due to their age.
National Context and Ongoing Vigilance
Across Canada, the hardest-hit regions have been Ontario and Alberta, where case numbers have reached into the thousands. Quebec has recorded dozens of measles cases since the outbreak began in 2023.
Despite Quebec's outbreak being declared over, health authorities remain cautious. Provincial public health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and remain ready to intervene if necessary, according to Blier's statement.
The loss of Canada's measles-free status after more than 25 years highlights the ongoing importance of vaccination and public health vigilance in preventing the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
