Daijiworld Media Network – Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Aug 19: Nepal has scripted a historic achievement in public health as the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the elimination of rubella as a public health problem in the country.
“Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, persistent efforts of healthcare workers and volunteers, and the support of informed communities,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO’s South-East Asia office, while endorsing the findings of the SEA-Regional Verification Commission (SEA-RVC).
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection that may appear mild but poses grave risks during pregnancy, often leading to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) and severe birth defects. Eliminating rubella has therefore been a global public health priority.
Nepal introduced the rubella vaccine in 2012, targeting children aged 9 months to 15 years, followed by the addition of a second dose in 2016. Four nationwide vaccination campaigns — in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 — helped the country surpass 95% coverage, even amid challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and devastating earthquakes. Nepal also developed one of the region’s most robust laboratory testing algorithms to strengthen surveillance.
With this feat, Nepal joins Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste in eliminating rubella from the WHO South-East Asia Region.
India’s progress
India too has made significant strides, though rubella elimination remains a work in progress. Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine was rolled out nationwide in 2017, offering two free doses.
By 2024-25, India reported 93.7% coverage for the first dose and 92.2% for the second, close to WHO’s 95% benchmark. Between January and March 2025, 332 districts reported zero measles cases and 487 districts reported zero rubella cases.
In 2025, the government launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign, using multilingual outreach and a strong “ACT NOW” policy to cover children missed in earlier drives. Since 2017, India has vaccinated over 348 million children.
India also received the Measles and Rubella Champion Award in 2024 for its leadership in immunization strategies. States like Kerala continue to set examples through focused vaccination drives, achieving over 90% coverage in recent campaigns.
The road ahead
Public participation remains vital. Parents are urged to ensure timely MR doses for children, while communities must actively support immunization drives and report suspected cases to strengthen surveillance.
Experts believe India is on track to eliminate rubella by 2026, provided momentum is sustained.