In 1998, Canada earned its elimination status after a successful, years-long campaign to popularize the measles vaccine. But this past year, the country has seen a dramatic rise in the disease with 5,139 cases.

Canadian public-health officials and care providers are watching closely to see if the country loses a significant distinction: its status as a place that has eliminated the spread of measles, considered one of the world’s most contagious diseases.

On Monday, the Pan American Health Organization will provide an update on the current measles situation in the Americas. It will issue findings that follow a review conducted by a body established by the PAHO to evaluate national data. Measles elimination is reached when transmission is interrupted for 12 consecutive months or more.

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