WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oh, Canada, get vaccinated, eh.
Measles cases have sharply risen across the Region of the Americas in 2025, with 2,318 confirmed infections and three reported deaths as of April 18, according to the World Health Organization. This marks an 11-fold increase from the same period in 2024, when just 205 cases were reported.
The surge spans six countries: Argentina (21 cases), Belize (2), Brazil (5), Canada (1,069), Mexico (421 including one death), and the United States (800 including two deaths). The majority of infections occurred among individuals aged 1 to 29 who were either unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status. Most cases were imported or linked to international travel.
Canada has seen its highest annual measles case count since the disease was eliminated nationally in 1998, with over 1,000 cases from seven provinces. A single imported case in New Brunswick in October 2024 sparked a multi-province outbreak in under-vaccinated communities, responsible for 83% of this year’s cases. Most infected individuals were unvaccinated (84%) or of unknown status (12%).
In Mexico, the majority of its 421 reported cases were concentrated in Chihuahua, where one death was confirmed. Nearly all individuals infected in Mexico were unvaccinated. Belize also reported its first measles cases since 1991, involving two unvaccinated teenagers who had attended a religious gathering in Mexico.
The U.S. recorded 800 confirmed cases across 25 states, with 93% tied to outbreaks. Two measles-related deaths occurred in Texas. Children under five made up 31% of cases, with nearly one in five requiring hospitalization. Nationwide MMR vaccination rates have dropped to 92.7%, down from 95.2% in 2019-2020.
Measles is highly contagious and preventable with two doses of vaccine, but global immunization gaps—22 million children missed their first dose in 2023—have contributed to rising case numbers. The WHO currently assesses the regional risk in the Americas as high, with moderate global risk.
