Canada's measles rate per capita surpasses U.S. as North American outbreak expands

Aug 8, 2026

World Health Organization data reveals that Canada has surpassed the United States in measles cases per capita, recording 1,107 cases compared to the U.S. total of 2,260, despite having one-tenth of the population. The broader Americas region is experiencing its worst outbreak in over two decades, with 47,459 cases and 45 deaths. While Manitoba's cases are declining from their February peak, the U.S. faces a critical review that could strip its long-held measles elimination status.

Canada measles per capita rate

▪World Health Organization data shows Canada has half as many confirmed measles cases as the United States, despite having a population only one-tenth the size.
▪Health Canada reported two new measles cases during the week of July 19 to 25, 2026, bringing the country's total to 1,109 cases.
▪The majority of Canada's 2026 measles cases are concentrated in Manitoba with 677 cases and Alberta with 311 cases, while Quebec has 31 cases.
▪As of July 18, 2026, the United States had recorded 2,260 confirmed measles cases, while Canada had confirmed 1,107 cases.

North American outbreak expansion

▪Approximately 186,000 measles cases were reported globally as of July 2026, representing a 12 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
▪North and South America are experiencing their highest number of confirmed measles cases in more than two decades as of August 2026.
▪The measles outbreak has claimed 45 lives in the Americas as of August 2026, with the majority of deaths occurring in Guatemala and Mexico.
▪The World Health Organization reported 47,459 confirmed measles cases in the Americas as of July 18, 2026, which is three times the total reported in 2025.

U.S. measles elimination status review

▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 94 new measles infections on August 7, 2026, bringing the United States total for 2026 to 2,465.
▪An ongoing measles outbreak in Utah has lasted for more than 12 months, which is the primary criterion for losing measles elimination status.
▪The United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status, held since 2000, after logging consecutive years with more than 2,200 cases.
▪A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee will review measles data in August 2026 to determine if the United States has lost its elimination status.

Manitoba case decline

▪Since the Manitoba measles outbreak began in February 2025, 52 people have been hospitalized, including 26 children under the age of 10.
▪Manitoba's July 2026 measles cases represent a 98 percent drop from the outbreak's peak in February 2026, which had 177 confirmed cases.
▪Manitoba has recorded 608 confirmed and 79 probable measles cases in 2026, maintaining the highest tally of any Canadian province.
▪Manitoba health officials reported only two confirmed measles cases in July 2026, down from eight confirmed cases in June 2026.

WHO vaccination recommendations

▪Daniel Salas of the Pan American Health Organization emphasized that measles outbreaks expose immunity gaps that must be urgently addressed among children.
▪The World Health Organization issued an alert urging countries in the Americas to strengthen vaccination, surveillance, and rapid outbreak response measures.
▪Daniel Salas of the Pan American Health Organization stated that stopping measles requires achieving high vaccination coverage and detecting suspected cases early.

Outbreak response measures

▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking 38 active measles outbreaks in the United States as of August 7, 2026.
▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention utilizes whole-genome sequencing data to assess and identify unbroken chains of measles transmission.
▪Public health workers in the United States use shoe-leather epidemiology, interviewing contacts to identify exposure locations and reconstruct measles transmission chains.