{
  "id": 15664394,
  "title": "Canada’s 2-year measles outbreak officially over: PHAC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/canadas-2-year-measles-outbreak-officially-over-phac",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-19T22:30:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12108446/canada-measles-outbreak-declared-over/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "After a two-year measles outbreak that cost Canada its global elimination status, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced on Monday that the epidemic has officially concluded. The outbreak, which commenced in October 2024 in New Brunswick, resulted in over 6,400 cases reported across ten provinces and territories. Ontario experienced the highest number of cases, with 2,390 reported, followed by Alberta with 2,299 and Manitoba with 1,033. The remaining cases were documented in all provinces and territories except Yukon, Nunavut, and Newfoundland and Labrador.\n\nMost of the infected individuals lacked measles vaccinations. In November 2025, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) informed PHAC that it had lost its elimination status due to the sustained transmission of the same measles virus strain in Canada for more than a year. The PAHO commission verified this through recent epidemiological and laboratory data.\n\nPHAC's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Joss Reimer acknowledged the efforts of public health authorities, healthcare providers, community organizations, and families in ending the outbreak. However, she also cautioned Canadians about the ongoing threat of measles globally and urged them to ensure their routine vaccinations, such as measles, are up to date to prevent future outbreaks. Despite the end of the national outbreak, PHAC emphasized that measles continues to circulate worldwide, and further travel-related cases may occur.\n\nFederal Health Minister Marjorie Michel stated that while the outbreak is over, the focus remains on increasing vaccination rates and protecting the health of Canadians. Recent cases were reported between October 4 and October 10, with three new confirmed instances.",
  "summary": "The measles outbreak started in October 2024 and has continued for about two years, with more than 6,400 cases reported during that time.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Measles outbreak over after 2 years, thousands infected in Canada: PHAC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/measles-outbreak-over-after-2-years-thousands-infected-in-canada-phac",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:55:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Canada’s 2-year measles outbreak officially over: PHAC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/canadas-2-year-measles-outbreak-officially-over-phac-15666853",
        "published": "2026-10-19T22:30:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}