Measles’ spread was rampant in the northeast, including the Peace region. Almost three-quarters of cases in B.C. were based in this pocket of the province.
In a tumultuous 2025, measles made a comeback nationwide. British Columbia’s outbreaks were largely contained to the northeast – more specifically, the North Peace. The community’s low vaccination rate was a factor in the over 300 cases reported this year.
“In terms of the measles, at the very beginning (of the outbreak), it wasn’t our top concern for northern B.C. In a post pandemic (world), that’s a preventable disease,” said Dr. Jong Kim, the chief medical health officer at Northern Health.
Measles was eliminated in Canada in 1998, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. This status was achieved after the measles-mumps-rubella immunization rolled out. It is administered in two doses – the first when the child is 12 months old, and generally, the second is given before the child enters kindergarten.
In the northeast, 64 per cent of eligible two-year-olds were recorded to be up to date on this shot in 2022. Almost 25 per cent of children aged two in that area had “no immunizations recorded” and one child’s caregiver opted out of all vaccinations, according to data collected by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
One-fifth of students in the sixth grade in the northeast were not fully immunized – seven per cent of them only received an initial vaccine, per the province’s healthcare tracker. 28 of the 874 northeastern sixth grade students’ parents refused the MMR vaccine and 62 did not have immunization records to provide.
“For measles, because it spreads so easily, we need to have very, very, very high immunization rates. In the upwards of 90 plus per cent, (around) 94, 95 per cent,” said Dr. Martin Lavoie, B.C.’s deputy provincial health officer, while reacting to the revocation of Canada’s elimination status in October.
“We’ve seen that significant uptake from those immunization opportunities for measles in the community, which is great and very encouraging,” said Kim. Northern Health reported an over 200 per cent increase in vaccines administered in the northeast from June to October of this year, when compared to last.
This outbreak began in October of 2024 in the Maritimes, with over 95 per cent of cases in Canada linked to this originator, Lavoie explained.
“Measles activity peaked a few months ago, like I said, (at the) end of April, early May, and has been slowing down across Canada,” he continued. “Once we reach one year without any sustained domestic transmission, Canada will regain its measles elimination status.”
Kim said he’s unsure of what to expect next year.
“We probably have to wait and watch,” said Kim. “(Regarding) the measles situation in northern B.C., as well as Alberta and Ontario, I think we will see some continued transmission at least in the early part of 2026.”
He said a continued upward trend in the administration of vaccinations and good hygiene practices are two solid steps in the direction of eliminating the measles once again.
