The number of measles cases in Alberta exceeded 2,000 last year, and the outbreak is far from over

A measles outbreak in Alberta could lead to more than 2,000 cases of the highly contagious disease in 2025 and, while transmission has declined dramatically, experts warn the virus remains a threat in the coming year.

Alberta had confirmed 2,008 measles cases as of Dec. 31, according to the province. Some cases were reported as early as January but occurred in 2025.

“Alberta, over the last year, has become the most infectious place per capita in the US,” said Craig Jayne, a professor of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary.

According to the Alberta government, a multiple measles epidemic across the province that began in March was triggered by more than a dozen cases imported from other locations.

“So it really makes sense that within Alberta, unfortunately, there was a lot of transmission,” Jane said.

The outbreak in Alberta and Ontario accounted for the majority of Canada’s measles cases in 2025 and played a significant role in the country’s loss of lives. measles eradication status,

data The Public Health Agency of Canada, which lags Alberta’s reporting, shows Ontario had reported 2,396 of the country’s 5,393 cases as of Dec. 27.

Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications including pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death.

been there one measles-related death Reported in the province since the outbreak began. an infant A woman who was born prematurely died shortly after birth after her mother contracted measles during pregnancy.

provincial data As of December 13, 161 hospitalizations are reported due to measles, including 15 ICU admissions.

According to Jane, the good news is that the number of cases in the province has slowed down and Alberta is not currently dealing with any major outbreaks.

“We’re not seeing a dozen or more cases linked to single events,” said Jayne, deputy director of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Disease at the University of Calgary.

“At the same time, we see these numbers continuing to rise and new cases continuing to be identified in the province, and measles simply is not gone. It is there. It persists in communities and there is a risk of it spreading in some areas of the province.”

An emailed statement from the Minister of Primary and Preventive Health Services said there has been a sharp decline in cases and only one or two new cases have been reported a day in three months.

One new case was reported on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 2,009.

“Hospitalization numbers are extremely low, with no more than five individuals hospitalized at any one time. Currently, there are zero patients in hospital,” said Madison McKee, press secretary for Minister Adriana LaGrange.

“We continue to promote vaccinations and are hopeful that numbers will remain low, ideally zero, allowing us to officially declare the outbreak over, although the risk of new introductions always remains. It is important to note that Alberta’s cases have resulted from more than a dozen separate introductions from outside the province.”

The province said it used a targeted vaccination campaign, expanded clinic hours and province-wide outreach to increase vaccinations and limit the spread of the virus. It also ran radio, print, digital and social media advertising campaigns in more than 14 languages.

According to the ministry, more than 156,000 measles vaccinations were administered between mid-March and mid-December. This represents an increase of 41 percent compared to the same period last year.

“In the South and North, where historical uptake has been low, vaccinations have increased by 72 percent and 64 percent, respectively,” McKee said.

Measles ‘still a threat’

According to Dr. Kareena Top, vigilance remains important. He described 2025 A ‘terrible year’ for measles in Alberta and Canada.

“Measles is still there. It’s still a threat. And it could rise again, that’s my biggest concern,” said Topp, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

“To declare the outbreak over, we actually have to go six full weeks without any new cases of the outbreak strain in Alberta. Ontario was able to do that. They declared (their) outbreak in early October. But in Alberta, it’s ongoing.”

The province’s website shows measles exposure advisories are in effect for the South Zone and parts of the North Zone.

“So I think we’re a long way from being able to say that it’s over or necessarily under control,” Top warned.

And with measles hotspots in other parts of the country and the world, more cases are likely to arrive through travel, Jenny warned.

“The situation that actually existed…in early 2025 – vaccination rates that were below herd immunity – still exists in the province, so there is still the possibility that a recurrence of even a single case of measles in an at-risk community could once again trigger a significant flare-up,” he said.

According to the ministry, while measles spread in some small communities with low vaccination rates, significant spread was not seen in most provinces, including major cities.

“While some areas – particularly the South Zone – continue to have low vaccination coverage (about 40 to 65 per cent), this is not unique to Alberta. Similar low-vaccination areas exist across Canada, reflecting a nationwide challenge,” Mackie said.

“Public Health is taking proactive steps to limit further spread and ensure Albertans have timely, clear information to protect themselves and their families.”