India’s plan to eradicate measles, rubella

Context

India had set a target to eliminate measles and rubella (MR) by 2023, having missed the earlier deadline of 2020, due to a variety of reasons, exacerbated by disruptions due to the pandemic.
An earlier target that was set for 2015 was also missed.

Significance of the target

The measles virus is one of the world’s most contagious human viruses that kills more than 1,00,000 children every year globally, and rubella is a leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Both measles and rubella can be prevented by just two doses of a safe and effective vaccine.
Over the past two decades, the measles vaccine is estimated to have averted more than 30 million deaths globally, as per the WHO’s statistics.

Government measures

India conducted a phased measles catch-up immunisation for children aged 9 months–10 years in 14 States, vaccinating approximately 119 million children.
Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 to ramp up vaccinating the unvaccinated population.
During 2017–2021, India adopted a national strategic plan for measles and rubella elimination.
India introduced rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into the routine immunisation programme.
It launched a nationwide measles-rubella supplementary immunisation activity (SIA) catch-up campaign.
It also transitioned from outbreak-based surveillance to case-based acute fever and rash surveillance, and more than doubled the number of laboratories in the measles-rubella network.

Rubella

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus.
It is also called “German measles,” but it is caused by a different virus than measles
Most people who get rubella and measles usually have a mild illness, with symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
Rubella and measles can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in a developing baby if a woman is infected while she is pregnant.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by measles virus
Small white spots known as Koplik’s spots may form inside the mouth two or three days after the start of symptoms
The best protection against rubella is the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.

Signs and Symptoms

For children who do have symptoms, a red rash is typically the first sign.
The rash generally first appears on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body, and lasts about three days
Most adults who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

Transmission

Rubella and measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Also, if a woman is infected, while she is pregnant, she can pass it to her developing baby and cause serious harm.

Treatment

A person with rubella may spread the disease to others up to one week before the rash appears, and remain contagious up to 7 days after.
However, 25% to 50% of people infected with rubella do not develop a rash or have any symptoms, but they still spread it to others.

Vaccine

Rubella can be prevented with the MMR vaccine.
This protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella.
CDC (Centre for Disease Control) recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine
The MMR vaccine is very safe and effective. One dose of the MMR vaccine is about 97% effective at preventing rubella.

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