Nepal Eliminates Rubella, a Significant Public Health Milestone

Nepal Eliminates Rubella, a Significant Public Health Milestone
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The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday that Nepal has successfully eliminated the viral infection rubella as a public health problem, Anadolu Agency reported. With this achievement, Nepal becomes the sixth country in the Southeast Asia region to eliminate the contagious disease, also known as German measles.

WHO official Catharina Boehme praised Nepal’s success, attributing it to the unwavering commitment of its leadership, the persistent efforts of healthcare workers, and the support of its communities. Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, the WHO representative to Nepal, noted that the achievement is the result of close collaboration among the government, health workers, and partners.

Nepal’s success is rooted in its national immunization program, which was launched in 2012 and included the rubella vaccine for children aged nine months to 15 years. The country carried out four national campaigns in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, achieving over 95% vaccine coverage by 2024, which is enough to create herd immunity. Nepal also became the first country in the Southeast Asia region to introduce a laboratory testing algorithm for surveillance.

The WHO aims to eliminate measles and control rubella in the region by 2026. Rubella, which is generally mild in children and adults, can cause severe defects in babies, including miscarriage and stillbirth, if contracted during pregnancy. The WHO South-East Asia Region includes 10 member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, South Korea, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.