New York Department of Health Issues Travel Warning for Canada Amid Measles Outbreak

The New York State Department of Health has issued a travel advisory to New Yorkers due to the ongoing measles outbreaks in the U.S. and abroad.

The U.S. CDC has been warning Americans about measles for months, due to the increased activity both within the country and abroad.

The NY Department of Health advisory, issued on April 2 to healthcare professionals in the state, warns New Yorkers about the danger posed by measles.

“Measles is more common in different places and exposure during travel is something we need to consider,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “Measles can be a serious disease. It is not just a rash; it can cause pneumonia, hospitalization and even death.”

The advisory urges travelers to get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine at least two weeks before leaving the country.

“With spring and summer travel season approaching, anyone who is not protected can get measles while traveling and can easily spread it to others when they return home. Large measles outbreaks are possible when measles cases reach at-risk populations with low immunization rates against measles.”

Canada’s Measles Outbreak

The NY DoH travel advisory points to the ongoing outbreak in Canada, as well as in parts of the U.S. and abroad.

Focused in Ontario, Canada is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in decades. According to the CBC, health officials in Ontario have now seen over 800 people with measles, most of which are unvaccinated children.

In the U.S., the numbers aren’t much better: As of March 26, 2025, a total of 483 measles cases have been reported by 20 U.S. jurisdictions. This is more in the first three months of 2025 than in all of 2024.

The advisory warns that there has been an increased number of measles cases in countries like Yemen, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Ethiopia, Romania, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Vietnam.

After travelling, individuals should watch for measles symptoms for three weeks. The virus is extremely contagious and can pass in the air up to two hours after an infected person has left the room.

Measles symptoms typically include:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
• Cough
• Runny nose (coryza)
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis or pink eye)
• Rash (3-5 days after symptoms begin)