Public health officials are watching the buildup to the FIFA World Cup in Vancouver with more than sports in mind. As visitors from around the world prepare to arrive, experts say measles could move into Canada with them, creating avoidable trouble in crowded stadiums, transit systems, and fan zones.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has already flagged measles as one of the illnesses most likely to be imported during the tournament. That concern is not hard to understand: the virus is still active in many countries, spreads through the air with ease, and can find new hosts quickly when large groups gather in close quarters.
Ontario has released a detailed risk review for the event, pointing to heavy travel, dense venues, and lower vaccination coverage as key factors. British Columbia, by contrast, has not publicly shared its own assessment, which has left some health leaders wanting a clearer message before the crowds arrive.
B.C. Health Experts Want Faster Public Warnings
Dr. Brian Conway of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre says the province should be more direct with the public now, not later. In his view, residents and travelers should be told plainly that measles is circulating in Canada and that checking vaccination records should be part of World Cup planning.
His concern is not just about local residents. He says international visitors need to know they are entering a country where measles remains active, and that simple prevention steps can lower the odds of a tournament-related outbreak.
For Conway, the basic message is straightforward: if a city is about to host tens of thousands of people, it should make sure they know the health risks before they arrive.
| Area | Current concern | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Canada overall | Imported measles cases remain likely | Travel can move the virus across borders quickly |
| British Columbia | Public assessment has not been released | Clear guidance could help residents prepare |
| Vancouver | Large crowds will gather for the tournament | Close contact increases the chance of spread |
Recent Case Numbers Show the Scale of the Issue
So far this year, Canada has reported more than 900 measles cases across seven jurisdictions, with Alberta and Manitoba carrying the largest share. The national situation follows a much larger outbreak last year, when more than 5,000 people were infected. Health officials believe that surge began after an exposure outside the country in late 2024.
British Columbia has not been spared. Provincial data show 470 measles cases across 2025 and 2026, and about 80 percent of them were concentrated in northeastern B.C., where immunization rates are among the lowest in the province.
That pattern matters because measles does not need much help to spread once it reaches a vulnerable community. A single imported case can create a wider problem if enough people nearby are not protected.
Vancouver Has Seen This Before
Experts also point to Vancouver’s own history. After the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, British Columbia recorded a measles outbreak that involved 82 confirmed cases. The circumstances are different today, but the lesson is familiar: major international events can open a path for contagious diseases to travel.
Dr. Conway says the current situation may be even more delicate because vaccination levels have dropped in parts of the province. He also notes that some countries sending athletes, staff, and fans may have weaker immunization coverage, which raises the odds that an infected traveler could arrive during the tournament.
Vancouver Coastal Health says it has been preparing for years and has already completed a public health risk assessment with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, though the findings have not been made public. Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, the region’s deputy chief medical health officer, said the measles risk has been rated in the medium to moderate range.
He added that the health authority has dealt with dozens of imported measles cases during the current outbreak without seeing sustained spread in the region. In his view, strong vaccination coverage in the Vancouver Coastal Health area should make it easier to contain any case that does appear during the World Cup.
The City of Vancouver says it has emergency and operational plans ready and is prepared to respond if public health problems arise during the event.
Why Vaccination Is the Main Defense
Dr. Monika Naus, a professor in the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health, says major international gatherings always carry some disease risk. Even so, she believes the broader public threat remains limited because most adults are already immune through vaccination or past infection.
The bigger danger, she says, is for under-vaccinated communities where the virus can take hold more easily. In British Columbia, those communities are often clustered in specific regions, which makes prevention efforts even more important.
Canada also lost its measles elimination status last year after the Pan American Health Organization said transmission had continued too long to count as isolated imported cases. The country can regain that status if spread is interrupted for a full year.
For residents and visitors headed to Vancouver, the practical advice is simple: confirm your measles shots now. With World Cup crowds on the way, a few minutes spent checking records could help keep a preventable disease from turning a global event into a health problem.