CBC We’re wrapping up our live updates for the moment on Canada’s loss of its measles elimination status.
The announcement didn’t come as a surprise to many, but health officials and experts say it is a setback in terms of Canada’s reputation and standing for public health globally.
It also shows how there are gaps in the country’s public health infrastructure since Canada first gained the status in 1998, according to infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch, who says he’d like to see more investments in outreach and programs to lower barriers to vaccination access.
Two other PAHO countries — Venezuela and Brazil — lost their measles elimination status in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Through sustained public health efforts, they both got it back after about five years, a spokesperson for PAHO told The Canadian Press in an email.