Nepal officially verified as having eliminated rubella

In a significant public health achievement, Nepal has been officially verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated rubella as a public health problem. This makes Nepal the sixth country in the WHO’s South-East Asia region to achieve this milestone.

Understanding Rubella and its Dangers

Also known as German measles, rubella is a highly contagious viral infection. While it is generally mild in children and adults, it poses a severe threat when contracted by a pregnant woman. Infection, especially during the first trimester, can lead to:

• Miscarriage or stillbirth.
• Lifelong congenital defects in the infant, a condition known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). These defects can include deafness, cataracts, and heart defects.

Nepal’s Strategy for Elimination

Nepal’s success is the result of a concerted, long-term effort. Key strategies included:

• Vaccination Campaigns: The country first introduced the rubella-containing vaccine in 2012 with a nationwide campaign targeting children aged 9 months to 15 years. A second dose was added to the routine immunization schedule in 2016. Despite facing major challenges like the 2015 and 2023 earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal achieved over 95% vaccination coverage by early 2024.
• Strengthened Surveillance: Nepal was the first country in the region to introduce a robust laboratory testing algorithm to strengthen its surveillance system and ensure accurate case identification.
• Community Engagement: The program was successful due to the unwavering commitment of government leaders, healthcare workers, and community volunteers.

Regional and Global Context

Nepal joins a distinguished list of countries that have eliminated rubella, which includes Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste. The WHO South-East Asia Region is now accelerating efforts to achieve the dual elimination of both measles and rubella by 2026.

In India, the rubella vaccine is administered free of charge as part of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Two doses of the MR vaccine are given to eligible children, at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age, respectively.