Kathmandu/New Delhi: Nepal has officially eliminated rubella as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced this week. The achievement marks a major victory for global health and puts India, which is close to the same goal, in sharp focus.
How Rubella impacts life
Rubella, or German measles, is a viral infection that causes mild fever and rash but poses grave risks to pregnant women. Contracting it during early pregnancy can lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in babies, causing lifelong conditions such as hearing loss, cataracts, and heart defects. Eliminating rubella is therefore considered a major global health priority.
Nepal’s Public Health Victory
Nepal introduced the Rubella vaccine in 2012 and added a second dose in 2016. Four nationwide campaigns, in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, pushed coverage above the 95% benchmark set by WHO. Despite earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal sustained high vaccination rates through annual “immunisation months,” district incentives, and strong community outreach. Robust laboratory surveillance further strengthened the effort.
“This success reflects the unwavering commitment of Nepal’s leadership, the tireless work of health workers and volunteers, and the strong engagement of communities,” said Dr. Catharina Boehme, officer-in-charge of WHO’s South-East Asia office.
Nepal now joins Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, DPR Korea, and Timor-Leste in eliminating rubella.
India’s Stride Toward Elimination
India has been steadily moving toward elimination through its Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which, since 2017, has provided two free doses of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine.
- High Coverage: By 2024–25, MR vaccine coverage reached 93.7% for the first dose and 92.2% for the second, just short of WHO’s 95% target.
- District Success: Between January and March 2025, 487 districts reported zero rubella cases.
- Mass Campaigns: The 2025 Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign is targeting every missed child, with multilingual awareness drives and digital outreach.
Since 2017, India has vaccinated over 348 million children, earning the Measles and Rubella Champion Award (2024) for its leadership. Surveillance systems and laboratory networks have been expanded to detect and contain outbreaks quickly.
Experts believe India could eliminate Rubella by 2026 if vaccination momentum is maintained. Parents and communities remain key players by ensuring children get both MR doses on time and reporting suspected cases promptly.
Nepal’s triumph shows that elimination is possible, and India now stands at the threshold of achieving the same milestone.
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