Measles Risk Raises Concerns Before FIFA World Cup Arrives in Vancouver

Public health experts are warning that next month’s FIFA World Cup could increase the risk of measles spreading in Canada, including in Vancouver, as international visitors arrive for one of the world’s largest sporting events.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified measles as a disease with a high likelihood of being brought into the country during the tournament. The agency’s concern is tied to several factors: measles remains active in many parts of the world, it spreads easily through the air, and large events can bring together thousands of people from different regions in crowded spaces.

Ontario has already published a detailed infectious disease risk assessment for the World Cup. That assessment points to international travel, packed venues and declining vaccination rates as conditions that could raise the chance of measles outbreaks.

British Columbia, however, has not yet released a public version of its own risk assessment for the tournament.

Calls for Stronger Public Messaging in B.C.

Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, said the lack of visible public communication in B.C. is troubling.

According to Conway, public health officials should be speaking more clearly to residents and visitors before tournament crowds arrive. He said people should be encouraged to check whether they are protected against measles and update their vaccination status if needed.

He also said visitors should be made aware that Canada is currently dealing with active measles transmission.

His message is simple: preparation matters before large numbers of fans, athletes and tourists arrive in the city.

Measles Cases Continue Across Canada

Canada has reported more than 900 measles cases across seven jurisdictions so far this year, with Alberta and Manitoba accounting for the largest share of infections.

The current national outbreak follows a much larger surge last year, when more than 5,000 people were infected. That outbreak is believed to have started with a case in New Brunswick in fall 2024, after the infected person was exposed outside Canada.

In British Columbia, provincial data shows 470 measles cases have been reported during 2025 and 2026. About 80 per cent of those cases have been concentrated in northeastern B.C., an area with some of the province’s lowest immunization rates.

Vancouver Has Faced Measles After a Major Sporting Event Before

Public health experts are also pointing to history as a reason for caution.

After the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, B.C. recorded a measles outbreak involving 82 confirmed cases. While the circumstances are not identical, experts say the example shows how international sporting events can create opportunities for infectious diseases to spread.

Conway said the risk is greater now because measles vaccination rates have been falling in parts of British Columbia. He also noted that some countries sending visitors, athletes and fans to the World Cup may have even lower vaccination rates, increasing the chance that an imported case could arrive during the tournament.

Vancouver Coastal Health Says Planning Is Underway

Vancouver Coastal Health says it has been preparing for the FIFA World Cup for several years. The health authority said it has completed a public health risk assessment with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, although the findings have not been made public.

Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, deputy chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said the assessment placed the measles risk during the tournament in the medium or moderate range.

He said the health authority has already handled dozens of measles cases imported from other countries during the current outbreak. However, he noted that those cases have not led to continued spread within the region.

Lysyshyn said strong immunization rates in the Vancouver Coastal Health region have helped prevent onward transmission. Because of that, he does not expect a measles case imported during the FIFA World Cup to become significantly more difficult to manage.

City of Vancouver Says Emergency Plans Are in Place

The City of Vancouver says it has comprehensive operational and emergency management plans ready for the tournament.

City officials said they are prepared to respond appropriately if public health or safety issues arise during the event.

Experts Say Under-Vaccinated Communities Face the Greatest Risk

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 risk of infectious disease spread.

However, she said the overall risk to the general public remains limited because most adults are already immune to measles, either through vaccination or previous infection.

The bigger concern, she said, is what happens if measles reaches communities where vaccination coverage is low. In B.C., the most vulnerable areas are geographically clustered communities with lower immunization rates.

Canada Lost Its Measles Elimination Status

The Public Health Agency of Canada said last year that the Pan American Health Organization notified Canada it no longer holds measles elimination status.

A country loses that status when measles transmission continues for an extended period, rather than being limited to isolated imported cases.

Canada can regain measles elimination status if transmission is interrupted for a full year.

Why Vaccination Status Matters Before the World Cup

With FIFA World Cup events expected to bring large crowds into Vancouver, public health experts say checking vaccination records is one of the most important steps residents and visitors can take.

Measles is highly contagious, but it is also vaccine-preventable. Ensuring that people are fully immunized lowers the risk of imported cases turning into larger outbreaks.

For Vancouver, the challenge is balancing the excitement of a global sporting event with the need to prevent a preventable disease from spreading further.