Measles Outbreaks Spread Across Alberta, Ontario, Gauteng Amid Low Vaccination Rates

Measles outbreaks are escalating globally and in North America, fueled largely by declining vaccination rates and persistent vaccine hesitancy linked to mistrust from COVID-19 vaccine mandates. In Canada, Alberta and Ontario report the highest numbers, with Alberta's South Zone, including small towns like Taber, experiencing a significant surge rooted in unimmunized communities. Similarly, Gauteng province in South Africa faces a measles outbreak attributed to insufficient vaccination coverage, with health officials urging increased immunization efforts to close immunity gaps. In the U.S., the CDC notes that roughly 3% of measles cases in 2025 have occurred in fully vaccinated individuals, underscoring the need for timely post-exposure vaccination to mitigate disease severity and spread. Meanwhile, a new U.S. vaccine advisory panel chaired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to discuss and vote on recommendations for measles, flu, and other vaccines, including those containing thimerosal. These developments highlight ongoing challenges in controlling measles amid vaccine hesitancy and the need for robust public health responses worldwide.