Measles, Rubella & Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) Elimination

As a founding member of the Measles and Rubella Initiative (M & RI), launched in 2001, CDC provides both scientific and technical support to partners and countries in other parts of the world to reduce measles and rubella deaths. CDC played a key role, in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to develop a regional measles elimination strategy in 1996 that led to the elimination of this disease in the Americas in 2002 and the eventual declaration of measles elimination in 2016. CDC:

• Helps plan at a macro-and micro-level, implement, monitor, and evaluate measles and rubella vaccination campaigns in targeted areas to eliminate measles, rubella and CRS.
• Conducts operational research to provide evidence for recommendations that strengthen and guide measles- and rubella-control activities at the local, regional, and global levels.
• Helps evaluate the burden of rubella and CRS in countries to provide evidence for the introduction of rubella-containing vaccines.
• Provides technical assistance to conduct measles and rubella outbreak investigations, surveillance reviews, and routine vaccination program evaluations.
• Helps create and/or strengthen case-based measles, rubella, and CRS surveillance systems that allow countries to detect, monitor, and quickly respond to the presence of measles, rubella, and CRS.
• Serves as the global reference laboratory for measles and rubella.
• Provides resources for national reference laboratories.
• Provides technical assistance to global public health laboratories for the collection and shipment of clinical samples for measles testing using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

2012–2020 Global Measles and Rubella Strategic Plan

The 2012 to 2020 Global Measles & Rubella Strategic Plan [PDF - 1.28MB] describes five core components of a comprehensive measles and rubella elimination strategy:

• Achieve and maintain high levels of population immunity by providing high vaccination coverage with two doses of measles and rubella containing vaccines.
• Monitor diseases using effective surveillance and evaluate programmatic efforts to ensure progress.
• Develop and maintain outbreak preparedness, respond rapidly to outbreaks, and manage cases.
• Communicate and engage to build public confidence and demand for immunization.
• Perform the research and development needed to support cost-effective operations and improve vaccination and diagnostic tools.

Regional Measles & Rubella Elimination Goals

 

WHO Region	Target Date for Measles Elimination	Target Date for Rubella Elimination or Control
African Region	2020
Region of the Americas	2000	2010
South-East Asia Region	2020	2020
European Region	2015	2015
Eastern Mediterranean Region	2015
Western Pacific Region	2015	2015

Resources:

• Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Control and Elimination — Global Progress, 2000–2012
• Nationwide Rubella Epidemic – Japan, 2013
• Developing rubella vaccination policy in Nepal - results from rubella surveillance and seroprevalence and congenital rubella syndrome studies
• Global Control and Regional Elimination of Measles, 2000–2011
• Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Western Pacific Region, 2009–2012
• Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2013