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Bhutan and Maldives successfully eliminate measles

pharmafile | June 14, 2017 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development WHO, immunisation, measles, rubella 

The WHO has announced that Bhutan and Maldives have become the first South-East Asia region countries to successfully eliminate measles. Both countries managed this before the regional target of 2020, set by the WHO.

Bhutan and Maldives began their Expanded Program on Immunisation in 1979 and 1976, respectively. The success of the program has been revealed, after Bhutan has not experienced a case of indigenous measles since 2012 while Maldives has not had a case since 2009.

All countries within the region have been pushing for better control of the measles virus. The virus is a leading cause of child deaths and kills 132,200 people in 2015 alone – most of whom were children. The virus is an airborne disease spread through coughing and sneezing, which can lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation, hospitalization or death.

The WHO program for mass vaccination has reportedly averted 620,000 deaths from measles. This is as well as a push to control levels of rubella.

“Bhutan and Maldives have demonstrated how a highly contagious virus like measles can be eliminated. WHO commends them for this momentous public health achievement,” Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, said.

She continued, “The strongest political commitment, alongside the concerted efforts of health workers, officials and partners at all levels, has helped achieve this landmark success, which is a boost to the Region’s effort to eliminate measles and control rubella”.

Only last year, both North and South America were declared to be free of the measles virus.

In Europe, levels of measles were found to be relatively low. However, recent outbreaks this year have been found in areas where levels of immunisation coverage have dropped. 95% of coverage is targeted but countries such as, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Switzerland and Ukraine, have all struggled to hit this target.

Ben Hargreaves

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