The Americas recently lost their measles elimination status. This means the measles virus is spreading again in the region, especially in Canada. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) confirmed that measles has been circulating in Canada for over a year, causing a rise in cases across several countries. This is a big setback because the Americas were the first region worldwide to eliminate measles twice before.

Right now, there are outbreaks in Canada, Mexico, the US, and some other countries. Most cases happen in people who are not vaccinated. Measles is very contagious and can cause serious health problems like pneumonia and brain swelling. The good news is vaccines work well to stop the spread. But many places don’t have enough people vaccinated to keep measles from coming back. PAHO is urging governments to work together and boost vaccination efforts to stop outbreaks.

PAHO believes this setback can be fixed. Countries in the Americas need to improve tracking of cases, respond quickly to outbreaks, and raise vaccination rates. Canada has already started a plan to stop measles transmission and regain its elimination status. If everyone steps up efforts, the region can once again become free of measles.