Context: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination campaign 2025-26, marking a significant step towards India’s goal of eliminating Measles and Rubella by 2026.
🦠 About Measles
1. Causative Agent
Caused by the measles virus.
Type: Single-stranded, negative-sense, enveloped RNA virus.
2. Transmission
Highly contagious.
Spreads via:
Airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes.
Direct contact with nasal or mouth secretions.
3. Symptoms
Initial: High fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes.
Later:
Red rash starting from hairline and cheeks, spreading to trunk and limbs.
Koplik spots: Small white spots inside the mouth.
Complications: Ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and in severe cases, death.
Fatality Rate: 5–10%.
4. Measles Vaccine
First developed in 1963.
Has prevented over 9 crore (90 million) deaths globally.
Reduces risk of measles infection by 20-fold.
Lifelong immunity usually after infection or vaccination.
Not zoonotic: Does not occur in animals.
🌸 About Rubella (German Measles)
1. Causative Agent
Caused by the rubella virus.
Targets: Lymph nodes, skin, eyes.
2. Transmission
Spread via droplets from coughs/sneezes.
Also through direct contact with oral or nasal fluids.
3. Symptoms
Milder than measles:
Low-grade fever
Rash
Sore throat
Usually not severe in adults but dangerous for pregnant women:
Risk of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) affecting fetal development.
🎯 Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign (2025–26)
1. Objective
Eliminate Measles and Rubella, similar to Polio and Maternal-Neonatal Tetanus elimination.
‘ACT NOW’ policy to ensure rapid and complete coverage.
2. Vaccination Strategy
Two doses under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP):
First dose: 9–12 months
Second dose: 16–24 months
Provided free of cost to all eligible children.
3. Current Coverage (2024–25 HMIS Data)
1st dose coverage: 93.7%
2nd dose coverage: 92.2%
4. Progress
In 2024, compared to 2023:
Measles cases down by 73%
Rubella cases down by 17%