North America is at ‘high’ risk of measles compared with a ‘moderate’ risk globally, according to the WHO.
A serious outbreak of measles in Ontario, Canada, has added to concerns that the disease is rapidly spreading across North America.
The United States and Canada have been experiencing one of the worst measles outbreaks in years for the past few months, while the virus has also crossed to neighbouring Mexico.
Thousands of cases and several deaths have been reported in outbreaks across the three countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the “overall risk of measles in the Americas Region is considered high”.
The WHO said low vaccination rates are to blame.
