“Measles is a car ride away!”: New York warns travellers about Canada

A spike in measles cases in Ontario has caught the attention of New York State.

Last week, the New York State Department of Health issued a travel advisory ahead of its spring break, warning that measles is highly-contagious and “can easily cross borders.”

The department warns that outbreaks are happening in parts of the United States, Canada — especially in Ontario — and in other areas around the world.

“Measles is only a car ride away! Measles is a highly contagious virus. Around 90 per cent of people who are exposed to a person with measles will become infected if they are not vaccinated,” the health department wrote in its statement.

“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.”

Indeed, measles cases are across Canada, alarming health officials as new cases pop up throughout the country, with Ontario being one particular hot spot.

The latest measles outbreak began in October after a travel-related case in New Brunswick led to cases there and in Ontario.

Since the beginning of 2025, a total of 655 measles cases — 560 confirmed and 95 probable — have been reported in Ontario as of April 2, according to Public Health Ontario.

In comparison, just 101 confirmed cases were reported in the entire decade between 2013 and 2023, and 64 cases were recorded in 2024 alone.

Measles is a highly contagious disease — more contagious than COVID-19, influenza and chickenpox.

The best way to protect yourself against the measles is to get vaccinated, public health officials say.

Trade tensions

The warning comes amid rising trade tensions between Canada and the United States. 

The weak loonie and anger over U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war – including his annexation comments – are fuelling a decline in cross-border travel, observers say.

According to new data from Statistics Canada,  the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. by vehicle was down in March almost 32 per cent compared to March 2024, the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines.

Canadian return trips by air from the U.S. are also down 13.5 per cent last month compared to March 2024, the agency says. 

Return trips from countries other than the U.S., meanwhile, are up about nine per cent over the same period.

The Canadian government also quietly updated its advice to travellers heading south of the border last week.

In its latest notice, the government reminds Canadians that it cannot intervene if U.S. border agents deny travellers entry.

“Individual border agents often have significant discretion in making those determinations. U.S. authorities strictly enforce entry requirements.”

Ottawa’s notice also warns Canadians to “expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices.”

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