India Takes Action to Reduce Measles Outbreaks

As India continues its battle against measles outbreaks, it has accelerated last-mile coverage for measles elimination across the country, reported the World Health Organization (WHO).

The good news is that both measles and rubella can be prevented through vaccination.

India is targeting a vaccination coverage of 95% with two doses of the Measles and Rubella vaccine to achieve measles and rubella elimination by 2023.

To achieve that goal, India is conducting three rounds of Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 under the theme “A big leap towards measles and Rubella Elimination” – with an objective to identify and vaccinate all unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children till five years of age.

Targeted districts in the states of West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Mumbai in Maharashtra vaccinated over 30 million children were vaccinated with the measles and rubella vaccine from November 2022 to May 2023.

India is not alone in confronting measles outbreaks in 2023, The WHO and the U.S. CDC have identified over 30 countries with measurable measles outbreaks this year.

As of early September 2023, the CDC reported 19 measles cases in the U.S., including recent cases in Chicago and Texas.