Measles is surging in Alberta. Which vaccine-preventable disease could be next?

Alberta is currently facing its worst wave of measles cases in nearly half a century, raising concerns among doctors and scientists that this could be the start of a new era where other dangerous infectious diseases of the past could re-emerge and pose new health threats. The province has been battling a measles outbreak since March, with no end in sight, despite the fact that the virus was declared eliminated in Canada back in 1998.

Dr. Cora Constantinescu, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, describes measles as the “canary in the coalmine” when it comes to vaccine-preventable diseases. With declining vaccination rates in Alberta and across the country, measles has made a comeback due to the highly contagious nature of the virus and the need for high vaccination rates to achieve population-level protection.

In 2024, only 68.1% of Alberta two-year-olds were up to date with two doses of the measles vaccine, well below the 95% vaccination rate needed for herd immunity. This trend is not limited to measles, as vaccination rates for other childhood illnesses are also dropping, raising concerns about the resurgence of diseases that were once largely eliminated through comprehensive vaccination campaigns.

Experts like Craig Jenne, a professor at the University of Calgary, warn that diseases like polio could make a comeback if vaccination rates continue to decline. Polio, a highly infectious virus that can lead to paralysis and death, was largely eliminated in Canada through widespread immunization efforts. However, there have been recent concerns about falling vaccination rates for polio, with only 68.9% of two-year-olds up to date with four doses of the vaccine in 2024.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, has already seen outbreaks in Alberta, posing a serious threat to infants under the age of one. Vaccination rates for pertussis have also declined alongside polio, increasing the risk of serious complications for young babies.

In light of these concerns, doctors and scientists are urging the public to prioritize vaccination and ensure that immunization rates are brought back up to levels that provide adequate protection against these preventable diseases. The resurgence of measles in Alberta serves as a warning sign of what could happen if vaccination rates continue to decline, underscoring the importance of maintaining high levels of immunization to protect public health.

As Alberta grapples with the current measles outbreak, the urgency to address declining vaccination rates and prevent the resurgence of other infectious diseases of the past grows stronger. It is crucial for the public to understand the significance of vaccination in preventing the spread of dangerous diseases and to take action to ensure that the progress made in eradicating these illnesses is not undone.