Twelve cases of measles in B.C., including three new cases in Chilliwack, have been confirmed. Across Canada, there are now 1,983 confirmed cases of the potentially dangerous infectious airborne disease in the country’s latest outbreak, according to an e-mail from Health Canada to The Epoch Times.
“There is indeed a multijurisdictional measles outbreak ongoing in Canada,” Health Canada said, adding that “of the 3,381 measles cases (3,081 confirmed, 300 probable) reported in 2025, most cases (2,273 cases; 1,983 confirmed, 290 probable) are linked to this outbreak.”
Canada reached elimination status on measles in 1998, but several outbreaks have the country on track to lose this status after October of this year. The highest provincial infection numbers come from Ontario, with 2,186 confirmed cases of measles, followed by Alberta with 961 and Manitoba with 113.
Symptoms of measles include a cough, fever, and runny nose, along with a skin rash that usually starts in the face area and later appears on other areas of the body. The rash may take from one week to three weeks to appear after infection. Gastrointestinal, neurological, and renal issues, as well as pneumonia, brain swelling, and other complications, are also possible as a result of measles infection. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the mortality rate for measles in unvaccinated individuals is estimated at approximately 1 in 1,000.
The Government of Canada advises all individuals to get two doses of a measles vaccine. Those born prior to 1970 who already had measles as a child are assumed to have acquired immunity. Canada has two primary measles vaccines: the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, and the measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.
The latest weekly measles and rubella monitoring report is available here.
