"If current trends continue, North America could soon become a hotspot for permanent measles transmission. Canada could lose its measles-free designation this week, and the U.S. may not be far behind. A key measles and rubella committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will meet this week to discuss whether North American countries have lost their measles elimination status, meaning the measles virus has become endemic in those nations."
"A country is considered to have endemic measles if there has been uninterrupted transmission from a single outbreak of the virus that has lasted 12 months or longer. Canada has likely already passed that milestone; the country has seen a single outbreak of more than 5,100 measles cases since October 2024, according to its health data. The U.S. is also on shaky ground. A 762-case outbreak in West Texas that started in late January 2025 was declared over on August 18."
PAHO's measles and rubella verification commission will evaluate whether North American countries have lost measles elimination status due to sustained transmission. A country is considered to have endemic measles after an uninterrupted single-outbreak transmission lasting 12 months or more. Canada has reported a single outbreak of over 5,100 cases since October 2024, likely meeting that threshold. The United States experienced a 762-case outbreak in West Texas that was declared over on August 18, while ongoing outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah are under investigation. If investigators link those outbreaks to the Texas outbreak and transmission continues past January 2026, the U.S. could lose elimination status. Determinations rely on epidemiological, molecular data, and vaccination coverage.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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