Measles Resurgence Across the Americas Threatens U.S. Elimination Status

As of November 10th, 2025, Canada has lost its measles elimination status, becoming the latest warning sign for public health officials in the United States. The Pan American Health Organization determined that measles has circulated continuously in parts of Canada for at least 12 months, the threshold for losing the coveted elimination designation that Canada had held since 1998.

This development has raised alarms about the United States' own measles elimination status, which it achieved in 2000 but is now under threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,681 measles cases and 44 outbreaks across the country so far this year, with only 9 states remaining unaffected.

The measles resurgence has been particularly acute in Mennonite Christian communities, whose members have historically low vaccination rates and deep distrust of government health programs. Genetic testing has shown that the measles strains circulating in Canada, Texas, and the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua are closely related, affecting Mennonite populations that have migrated across the region over generations.

Measles elimination is a symbolic but significant public health achievement, and its loss in Canada is a stark reminder of the fragility of these gains. Health officials warn that the United States may soon face the same fate if vaccination rates continue to decline and outbreaks remain uncontrolled.