‘Not surprising’: Here’s what drove Canada’s lost measles-free status, says one expert – CTV

November 11, 2025

Canada has lost its official measles elimination status for the first time since 1998 as outbreaks in Ontario and Alberta drove infection rates to the highest levels in decades, according to one health expert.

Infectious disease specialist, Dr. Dale Kalina Samji, in an interview on CTV’s Your Morning Tuesday, cited low vaccine coverage and community mistrust as key reasons for the resurgence.

“We had two huge outbreaks that drove the number of cases that we had, particularly because they were in communities where their vaccine rates are very, very low. And with measles, which already spreads like wildfire, it really can take over,” Samji explained.

Measles is a highly contagious virus but also highly preventable with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Tight-knit communities with little exposure to public health information became transmission hotspots, Samji added.

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/not-surprising-heres-what-drove-canadas-lost-measles-free-status-says-one-expert/