Measles Elimination in Europe and South-East Asia Gains Momentum

For the past year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued Travel Health Advisories regarding measles outbreaks in various regions. Two of these regions are focused on reducing this vaccine-preventable disease.

The Seventy-Seventh Regional Committee Session of WHO South-East Asia announced that it is adopting resolutions and setting new targets for eliminating measles and rubella.

This effort is essential since the WHO South-East Asia is home to over a quarter of the world’s population.  

As of October 10, 2024, the Member countries agreed to extend the target for eliminating measles and rubella, aspiring to achieve that goal by 2026. The WHO stated that for every case of measles prevention, approximately two weeks of disability-adjusted life years would be averted.

Rubella elimination is estimated to prevent 52,118 cases of congenital rubella syndrome annually in the Region.

“While regionally, we have made good progress on eliminating measles and rubella, the pandemic did disrupt this progress. I am pleased the Regional Committee has resolved to revise the elimination target,” commented Saima Wazed, Regional Director, in a press release.

For example, Vietnam's Ministry of Health launched a measles vaccine campaign for children nationwide in August 2024.

In Europe, about 30 countries confirmed measles cases in 2024.

In the most recent 12-month period, EU/EEA Member States reported 18,449 measles cases. Romania (14,347), Italy, Belgium, Austria, and Germany reported the highest cases.

As of early October 2024, the CDC reported 267 measles cases in 32 jurisdictions in the United States, led by Illinois, Minnesota, and Oregon.