Fact Check: "In 1998, the year Tam started working in federal public health, measles was declared eliminated in Canada."
What We Know
In 1998, Canada achieved a significant public health milestone by eliminating endemic measles. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the country has not reported any cases of endemic measles since that year, marking the successful interruption of indigenous measles transmission for over 12 consecutive months, which is the standard definition of elimination (Maintaining measles elimination in Canada: Moving forward). This achievement was largely attributed to the success of two-dose routine immunization programs and catch-up campaigns (Update on the elimination of measles in Canada, 1998 - PubMed).
Dr. Theresa Tam, who joined the federal public health team in 1998, has been a prominent figure in Canada's public health landscape since the elimination of measles (Canada's top doctor Theresa Tam leaving role at end of term June 20). The elimination status has been maintained through ongoing immunization efforts and surveillance, although imported cases have continued to occur due to international travel (Elimination of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella ... - canada.ca).
Analysis
The claim that measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998 is supported by multiple credible sources. The Public Health Agency of Canada explicitly states that Canada has been free of endemic measles since 1998, highlighting the effectiveness of vaccination programs (Maintaining measles elimination in Canada: Moving forward). This aligns with the findings from a PubMed article that notes the same year marked the elimination of endemic measles in Canada (Update on the elimination of measles in Canada, 1998 - PubMed).
Dr. Tam's involvement in public health since 1998 adds a personal dimension to the claim, as she has been part of the ongoing efforts to maintain this elimination status (Canada's top doctor Theresa Tam leaving role at end of term June 20). The sources used are reliable, coming from established public health institutions and peer-reviewed articles, which lend credibility to the information presented.
While there have been instances of imported measles cases since 1998, these do not contradict the claim of elimination, as the definition of elimination specifically refers to the cessation of endemic transmission (Elimination of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella ... - canada.ca).
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998 is accurate. This conclusion is supported by credible sources that confirm the absence of endemic measles cases since that year, as well as the successful implementation of vaccination strategies that contributed to this public health achievement.
