As measles cases rise in the United States, Canada and Mexico are facing significant outbreaks linked to at least one death.
Recently, Ontario’s chief medical officer revealed that a premature infant infected with measles passed away.
Dr. Kieran Moore stated, “The infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the MMR vaccine. While measles may have contributed to both the premature birth and the death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus.”
In Mexico, at least four deaths related to measles have been reported this year, while three individuals in the US—two children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico—also lost their lives, all unvaccinated.
The current measles outbreaks are among the largest seen in decades for both Canada and Mexico. The World Health Organization has alerted that the “overall risk of measles in the Americas Region is considered high,” attributing this to low vaccination rates.
According to the Pan American Health Organization, there are over 1,520 recorded measles cases in Mexico as of late May.
Canada achieved measles elimination status in 1998, indicating no continuous spread for over a year. However, this year alone has seen more cases than in the previous 27 years combined, with at least 2,755 reported cases primarily in Ontario.
The US government reported approximately 1,168 measles cases this year—about 80% of which stem from an outbreak in West Texas that has extended into New Mexico and possibly Canada. This represents the second-largest number of cases since the US eliminated measles in 2000.
A significant portion of these outbreaks in North America appears centered in Mennonite communities that tend to have low vaccination rates due to limited access to formal healthcare.
Interestingly, during a recent webinar, experts from the Pan American Health Organization refrained from directly linking the outbreaks across the three countries.
Dr. Alvaro Whittembury noted, “The outbreak in Mexico began in Chihuahua, a Mennonite hub close to Texas, but it’s worth mentioning that most cases are outside these communities and are sustained within the general population.”
Experts mentioned that a small percentage of cases in the Americas have established genetic sequences, and there haven’t been enough identical sequences to draw direct links across countries.
Back in April, Mexico warned travelers heading to the US and Canada due to high incidences of measles. The CDC also enhanced vaccination advisories for international travelers, urging those to ensure they receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Dr. Moore stressed the importance of vaccination, particularly for those who might become pregnant, saying, “This vaccine has been safely used for over 50 years and is highly effective. Two doses provide nearly 100% protection.”
