The mother of two stands in the doorway of Coast Salish Elementary, hesitating before she collects her children. I never thought we’d be back here again, she says, adjusting her mask. Checking outbreak notices before playdates, worrying about every fever.
Across Vancouver’s Lower Mainland, variations of this scene play out daily as parents grapple with what public health officials are calling the most significant measles outbreak in Canada since 2019. What began as isolated cases in Toronto and Montreal this winter has expanded to over 150 confirmed infections nationwide, with British Columbia reporting 42 cases as of last week.
The numbers themselves might not sound alarming compared to COVID, explains Dr. Rayna Henderson, infectious disease specialist at BC Children’s Hospital. But measles is extraordinary in its ability to find susceptible individuals. One case can generate 18 new infections in an unvaccinated population.
When I visited the pediatric assessment center in East Vancouver, the waiting room held a tense energy. Nurses in protective equipment moved efficiently between examination rooms, while parents scrolled through phones, some looking up symptoms, others sending updates to family members.
The virus spreads through airborne particles and can remain infectious in a space for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Its initial symptoms—fever, cough, runny nose—resemble common respiratory infections before developing into the characteristic red rash. For most, recovery comes within two weeks, but complications can be severe.
We’re seeing the consequences of what public health experts warned about during the pandemic, says Henderson. Routine vaccination programs were disrupted globally. Here in Canada, we estimate over 35,000 children missed or delayed their measles vaccines during 2020-2021.
The current outbreak has hit hardest in communities with vaccination rates below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. An April 2025 Health Canada report indicated that MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination coverage among 7-year-olds has dropped to 87% nationally, with pockets as low as 78% in some regions.
This week, Vancouver Coastal Health declared outbreak status in three neighborhoods and implemented temporary exclusion policies for unvaccinated students in affected schools. The Squamish Nation has partnered with provincial health authorities to host community vaccination clinics after four cases were confirmed within their community.
This isn’t just about individual choices, explains Khelsilem, chairperson of the Squamish Nation Council. Our Elders carry important knowledge and cultural teachings. Protecting them means protecting our future. The Nation’s health department has mobilized quickly, combining traditional wellness approaches with contemporary public health measures.
The resurgence of measles in Canada reflects global patterns. The World Health Organization reported a 79% increase in measles cases worldwide in 2024, calling it a “canary in the coal mine” for immunization system weaknesses.
Rebecca Santos found herself at the center of Vancouver’s outbreak when her 10-month-old son Mateo developed a fever and rash in April. Too young for his first scheduled MMR vaccine, Mateo relied on community immunity that had eroded.
I’d heard about the cases, but they seemed far away until suddenly they weren’t, Santos explains, watching her now-recovered son stack blocks on their living room floor. He spent four nights in hospital. The doctors were wonderful, but I’ve never been so scared.
Santos has since joined parent advocates calling for stronger immunization programs and better public education. This isn’t about blaming others. It’s about rebuilding systems that protect everyone.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, points to successful containment strategies from past outbreaks. We’re applying lessons learned over decades of public health practice, with additional digital support systems developed during COVID-19.
