Canada's measles outbreak has reached concerning levels, surpassing 4,500 cases this year. Particularly alarming is the situation in Alberta-a province with approximately five million residents-which has reported more cases than the United States.

This development was highlighted by figures updated on Thursday.

Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveal that Canada accounts for nearly half of all confirmed measles cases across the Americas region for this year.

Although the country officially eradicated measles in 1998, recent years have seen a resurgence of the virus, notably within certain Mennonite Christian communities where vaccination rates are low.

Ontario, Canada's most populous province with around 16 million residents, has registered 2,366 cases according to federal statistics released this week.

Nationwide numbers have escalated to a total of 4,638 confirmed cases.

In Alberta-the hardest-hit province per capita-1,790 cases have been documented as part of their weekly updates.

Meanwhile, the United States is grappling with its worst measles epidemic in three decades and has reported 1,375 cases as per figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), an arm of WHO overseeing regional health matters, noted that a significant majority-71%-of these confirmed cases involve individuals who were not vaccinated.

An additional 18% pertain to people whose vaccination status remains undetermined.

Experts in Canada attribute several factors to this outbreak's spread including rampant misinformation about vaccines circulating online.

Canadian medical professionals have criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US Health Secretary for his long-standing dissemination of false information regarding vaccinations.

The outbreak predominantly affects Anabaptist Christian groups like Mennonites known historically for vaccine hesitancy.

The emergence of these incidents links back to a gathering at a Mennonite wedding held in New Brunswick's eastern locale.

Apart from Ontario and Alberta-home to sizeable Mennonite communities-cases are less frequent elsewhere; British Columbia ranks third among affected provinces with 190 instances reported.

The sole suspected death related to measles during Canada's 2025 epidemic involved an infant born prematurely who also suffered from other health issues; neither the child nor its mother had received vaccination against measles priorly acknowledged Akhbrna News reflecting on local official comments.