By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that Maldives and Sri Lanka were verified having eliminated rubella, making them the first two countries in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve measles and rubella elimination ahead of the 2023 target.
The announcement was made after the fifth meeting of the South-East Asia Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination.
“Protecting all children against these killer and debilitating diseases is an important step in our endeavor to achieve healthier population and health for all,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, congratulating Maldives and Sri Lanka on their achievement.
The UN agency said a country is verified as having eliminated measles and rubella when there is no evidence of endemic transmission of the measles and rubella viruses for over three years in the presence of a well performing surveillance system.
Maldives reported last endemic case of measles in 2009 and of rubella in October 2015, while Sri Lanka reported last endemic case of measles in May 2016 and of rubella in March 2017.
Bhutan, DPR Korea and Timor-Leste are other countries in the Region who have eliminated measles.
- US coronavirus cases top 3 million, California, Texas report surges
- Taiwan: Japanese encephalitis cases rise to 9, 1st infant botulism case reported
- Massachusetts Governor talks EEE prepareness after 2nd positive mosquito sample
- Chile COVID-19 cases top 300K, Testing to increase in Santiago Metro
- Dengue fever: 11th case reported in the Florida Keys this year
- Miami area: West Nile virus cases rise to 18
- Henry Ford Hospital researchers: Treatment with Hydroxychloroquine cut death rate significantly in COVID-19 patients
- South Africa reports additional almost 9,000 COVID-19 cases, Puts total over 200K
