Public health officials are watching the buildup to FIFA World Cup matches in Vancouver with real concern. The event will draw large international crowds, and experts warn that measles could arrive with travelers and spread quickly in crowded settings if vaccination gaps line up with the wrong conditions.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has already identified measles as one of the most likely infections to be imported during the tournament. That warning is not based on guesswork. Measles is still circulating in many parts of the world, it spreads through the air with unusual ease, and major sporting events create dense, fast-moving gatherings where one case can reach many people.
Ontario has published a detailed risk assessment for the event, and it points to the same pressure points: international travel, packed venues, and falling immunization coverage. British Columbia, by contrast, has not yet released a public version of its own assessment.
A Call for clearer messaging in B.C.
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, says the silence is a problem. In his view, residents and visitors should hear much more clearly that measles is still active in Canada and that people should verify their protection before they arrive at the stadiums and fan zones.
He believes the message needs to be practical and direct. If someone is not sure about their vaccination record, the time to check is now. If a traveler is coming from abroad, the time to learn about local health risks is before the trip, not after symptoms begin.
What health officials want people to do
- Review measles vaccination records before traveling or attending events.
- Make sure children and adults are up to date on recommended doses.
- Pay attention to public health notices during the tournament.
- Seek medical advice quickly if symptoms appear after exposure.
The outbreak picture across Canada
Canada has reported more than 900 measles cases in seven jurisdictions this year. Alberta and Manitoba have seen the largest shares of those infections, which shows how unevenly the virus can move through communities once it gains a foothold.
The current outbreak follows an even larger one last year, when more than 5,000 people were infected. Officials believe that surge began with a case in New Brunswick in fall 2024 after exposure outside the country.
British Columbia has not been spared. Provincial data show 470 measles cases across 2025 and 2026, with about 80 percent concentrated in northeastern B.C., where immunization rates are among the lowest in the province.
| Location | Current measles picture | Main concern |
|---|---|---|
| Canada overall | More than 900 cases this year | Ongoing national transmission |
| British Columbia | 470 cases across 2025 and 2026 | Clusters in lower-immunization areas |
| Vancouver region | Imported cases have occurred | Preventing onward spread |
Why past events still matter
Health experts are also looking back at Vancouver’s history. After the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, British Columbia recorded a measles outbreak with 82 confirmed cases. The situation is not identical, but it is a reminder that major international events can create ideal conditions for a virus to move from visitor to visitor and then into local communities.
Conway said the risk is sharper now because vaccination rates have slipped in some parts of the province. He also noted that some of the countries sending athletes, officials, and fans may have even lower coverage, which raises the odds that an infected traveler could arrive during the tournament.
Health authorities say planning is already underway
Vancouver Coastal Health says it has been preparing for the World Cup for years. The agency says it completed a public health risk assessment with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, but the findings have not been released publicly.
Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, deputy chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said the assessment placed measles risk in the moderate range. He also said the health authority has already handled dozens of imported measles cases during the current outbreak without seeing sustained spread in the region.
In his view, strong immunization coverage in the Vancouver Coastal Health area has helped stop transmission from growing. That is why he does not expect a single imported case during the World Cup to become unusually hard to contain.
City officials say emergency systems are ready
The City of Vancouver says it has broad operational and emergency management plans in place for the tournament. Officials say those systems are designed to respond quickly if public health or safety issues arise during the event.
Where the greatest danger remains
Dr. Monika Naus, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health, said large international gatherings always carry some infectious disease risk. Still, she said the broader public risk is limited because most adults are already protected through vaccination or earlier infection.
The bigger concern is what happens if the virus reaches communities where coverage is low. In British Columbia, those vulnerable areas tend to be clustered geographically, which can make local outbreaks more likely once measles starts spreading.
Elimination status and what it means
Last year, the Public Health Agency of Canada said the Pan American Health Organization informed Canada that it no longer holds measles elimination status. That designation is lost when transmission continues for a prolonged period instead of stopping after isolated imported cases.
Canada can regain that status if transmission is interrupted for a full year. For now, the focus is on limiting spread and preventing imported infections from reaching under-vaccinated groups.
What the World Cup moment requires
The message before the tournament is straightforward: check protection, stay alert, and do not assume measles is only a distant problem. With thousands of visitors expected in Vancouver, even a single imported case could matter if it lands in the wrong setting.
Measles is highly contagious, but it is also vaccine-preventable. That makes preparation the most effective defense. For Vancouver, the challenge is to welcome the world while keeping a preventable disease from gaining ground.
