Health officials are urging caution as the FIFA World Cup gets closer and international crowds prepare to arrive in Vancouver. The concern is not about the tournament itself, but about what large, busy, cross-border gatherings can do to the spread of measles, a virus that remains active in many parts of the world and moves quickly through the air.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has flagged measles as one of the more likely diseases to be introduced during the event. That warning makes sense to experts because the World Cup will draw travelers from many countries, many of them spending long hours in crowded airports, hotels, transit systems, and stadiums.
Ontario has already released a detailed infectious disease risk assessment for the tournament, pointing to travel volume, dense venues, and slipping vaccination coverage as reasons measles could gain a foothold. British Columbia, by contrast, has not yet made its own assessment public.
Why Public Health Messaging Matters
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, says the quiet response in B.C. is a concern. In his view, people need a clear reminder before the crowds arrive: check your measles protection now, not after there is a case in the city.
He argues that public communication should reach both residents and visitors. Travelers should know that Canada is already dealing with active measles transmission, and local families should be encouraged to confirm whether their vaccines are up to date.
- Review vaccination records before traveling or attending events
- Confirm whether two doses of measles vaccine have been received
- Pay attention to symptoms after international travel
- Seek medical advice quickly if exposure is suspected
According to Conway, the main goal is simple prevention. Once tens of thousands of people are in one place, it becomes much harder to manage a problem that could have been reduced in advance.
The National Picture Is Already Concerning
Canada has already reported more than 900 measles cases across seven jurisdictions this year, with Alberta and Manitoba accounting for the largest share. That number matters because measles is not a minor seasonal illness; it is highly contagious, and one imported case can create a larger chain of spread when immunity is uneven.
The current outbreak follows an even more severe surge last year, when more than 5,000 people were infected. Public health investigators believe that outbreak began after a case in New Brunswick in fall 2024, when the infected person had been exposed outside Canada.
In British Columbia, provincial reporting shows 470 measles cases across 2025 and 2026. Roughly 80 percent of those infections have been concentrated in northeastern B.C., where immunization rates are among the lowest in the province.
History Offers a Clear Warning
Experts are also looking back at Vancouver’s own experience after the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Following that event, B.C. recorded a measles outbreak with 82 confirmed cases. The circumstances were different, but the lesson is familiar: major international events can create ideal conditions for infectious diseases to move from one traveler to another.
Dr. Conway says the current situation may be more fragile because vaccine coverage has fallen in parts of British Columbia. He also notes that some countries sending fans, athletes, and support teams to the World Cup may have lower vaccination rates than Canada, increasing the chance that someone arrives while infectious.
What Makes Measles Hard to Control
Measles spreads with unusual efficiency, especially indoors or in crowded settings. A person can catch it simply by breathing shared air in the wrong place at the wrong time. That is why crowded sporting events deserve special attention from public health teams.
Even when most people are protected, a small number of under-vaccinated communities can still experience outbreaks if the virus finds its way in. That is the main reason experts keep returning to the same message: protection is strongest when coverage is broad.
What Health Authorities Say Is Already in Place
Vancouver Coastal Health says it has been preparing for the FIFA World Cup for years. The organization states that it completed a public health risk assessment with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, although the findings have not been released to the public.
Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, deputy chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said the assessment placed measles in the medium, or moderate, risk range during the tournament.
He added that the region has already dealt with dozens of measles cases imported from other countries during the current outbreak, but those cases did not lead to sustained local spread. In his view, strong immunization rates in the Vancouver Coastal Health region remain one of the most important safeguards.
Where the Greatest Risk Really Lies
Dr. Monika Naus of the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health says large international gatherings always carry some risk, but that risk is not spread evenly. Most adults are already protected through vaccination or previous infection, so the wider public is less exposed than people often fear.
The larger concern is what happens if measles reaches a community where vaccine coverage is low. In B.C., those communities tend to be clustered geographically, which can allow the virus to spread quickly once it enters.
- Low vaccination coverage increases outbreak potential
- Clustered communities can amplify transmission
- Imported cases are more dangerous when immunity gaps exist
- Early detection helps limit wider spread
Canada’s Lost 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 an extended period rather than staying limited to isolated imported cases.
Canada can regain that status if transmission is interrupted for a full year. Until then, public health officials are treating measles as a serious ongoing challenge, not a problem that has disappeared.
Why Vaccination Checks Come First
With the World Cup expected to bring huge crowds into Vancouver, experts say the most practical step is also the simplest: verify vaccination status now. Measles is preventable, but only if people are properly immunized before exposure happens.
That is especially important for families with children, people planning to travel, and anyone attending packed venues during the tournament. The city is preparing for a major celebration, but health officials are reminding everyone that a preventable disease should not be allowed to join the party.
For Vancouver, the real challenge is staying welcoming without becoming vulnerable.