Rubella Eliminated As A Public Health Issue In Nepal: Where India Stands
What Is Rubella And Why Does It Matter?
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection that usually causes a mild fever and rash. While rubella may appear harmless in children and young adults, it poses a very serious risk to pregnant women. If a woman contracts rubella during early pregnancy, it can cause Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in the baby, leading to birth defects such as hearing impairment, cataracts, heart problems, and developmental delays. According to the WHO, rubella remains a leading cause of preventable congenital disabilities in many countries. This is why eliminating rubella is considered a major public health priority across the world.
Nepal's Victory: A Landmark In Public Health
Nepal's strategy for eliminating rubella was multi-pronged and persistent. The rubella vaccine was introduced in 2012, covering children between the ages of nine months and fifteen years. A second dose was added to the national immunization schedule in 2016 to strengthen immunity. To maintain momentum, Nepal conducted four nationwide vaccination campaigns in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. These campaigns ensured that even children who were missed earlier got vaccinated, keeping coverage high despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and devastating earthquakes.
By 2024, Nepal had achieved over 95% coverage for at least one dose of the rubella vaccine, a benchmark that the WHO considers essential for elimination. Alongside vaccines, Nepal also introduced innovative approaches such as dedicating an "immunisation month" every year, incentivising districts that achieved full coverage, and using community outreach to identify and vaccinate missed populations. Importantly, the country also developed one of the region's first robust laboratory testing algorithms for rubella, which helped strengthen disease surveillance and ensure that every suspected case was properly investigated.
With this achievement, Nepal joins the ranks of Bhutan, DPR Korea, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste, the other countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region that have successfully eliminated rubella.
Where Does India Stand? A Progress Report
India has also made remarkable progress in reducing rubella cases, although the journey is still ongoing. Here's a detailed look at India's current efforts and challenges:
National Immunization Framework
Since 2017, India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) has included the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine. Under this programme, children receive two free doses: the first between 9-12 months, and the second between 16-24 months. This nationwide rollout was a huge step towards rubella elimination.
Vaccination Coverage
According to official data from 2024-25, India has achieved around 93.7% coverage for the first MR dose and 92.2% for the second dose. While this is close to WHO's recommended 95% benchmark, the remaining gap highlights the need for sustained campaigns, especially in remote and underserved areas.
District-Level Achievements
Between January and March 2025, 332 districts in India reported zero measles cases, while 487 districts reported zero rubella cases. This is an encouraging sign that elimination is within reach if coverage can be maintained consistently across all states.
National Campaigns and Initiatives
In 2025, the government launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign, with the ambitious aim of reaching every child left out of previous drives. The campaign includes multilingual awareness materials, digital outreach, and a strong "ACT NOW" policy to encourage parents and caregivers to get children vaccinated without delay.
International Recognition
India's progress has not gone unnoticed. In 2024, India received the Measles and Rubella Champion Award for demonstrating leadership and robust immunization strategies. This international recognition has reinforced India's role as a regional leader in public health.
Mass Vaccination Drives
Since 2017, India has vaccinated over 348 million children against measles and rubella. Recent campaigns between November 2022 and May 2023 reached millions more, especially in high-risk states and urban areas where outbreaks were more likely.
Surveillance and Laboratory Strengthening
India has expanded its surveillance systems, including a strong network of laboratories, to track suspected cases. Case-based monitoring of "fever with rash" illnesses helps health officials quickly identify and contain outbreaks. Support from WHO's National Public Health Support Network has played a big role in these improvements.
State-Level Examples
States like Kerala have shown strong leadership. In May 2025, Kerala conducted a two-week MR vaccination drive across selected districts, using mobile booths and community campaigns. This drive achieved 92% coverage for the first doseand 87% for the second dose, with a special focus on migrant workers and hard-to-reach communities.
What Can The Public Do?
While government campaigns and international support are crucial, public participation is equally important in eliminating rubella. Parents should ensure that children receive both recommended MR doses on time. Families must participate actively in immunization drives, help spread awareness, and encourage relatives and neighbours to get vaccinated. Adults can also play a role by reporting suspected cases of fever and rash to local health authorities, which helps strengthen surveillance.
Nepal's success in eliminating rubella shows that strong leadership, community engagement, and consistent vaccination campaigns can indeed eradicate deadly viruses. India is very close to achieving the same milestone, but the final stretch requires unwavering commitment. With sustained immunization coverage, improved surveillance, and active public participation, India can eliminate rubella by 2026 and protect future generations from preventable suffering.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Columbia scientists develop world's first prototype ‘Universal Antiviral'
Scientists at Columbia University are developing a universal antiviral. This treatment aims to protect against many viruses, including influenza and COVID-19. The therapy is inspired by a rare genetic mutation. It uses mRNA technology to produce antiviral proteins. Tests on mice and hamsters show reduced viral replication. This offers short-term protection during outbreaks. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Rare disorder reveals hidden defense Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Turning biology into therapy A temporary but powerful shield Challenges ahead A team of Columbia University scientists says it may be closer than ever to creating a universal antiviral , a treatment designed to temporarily shield people against a wide range of viruses, from influenza to experimental therapy, detailed August 13 in Science Translational Medicine , is inspired by a rare genetic mutation that gives a small number of people an extraordinary ability: resistance to nearly all viral infections About 15 years ago, Columbia immunologist Dr. Dusan Bogunovic began studying patients with a rare immune condition known as ISG15 deficiency . Though these individuals were more prone to certain bacterial infections, they seemed to shrug off viral illnesses without ever developing study revealed that the mutation caused a constant, low-level state of immune activation, a kind of background inflammation that was highly effective at blocking viruses. 'The type of inflammation they had was antiviral,' Bogunovic recalled in a Columbia University of reproducing the harmful aspects of ISG15 deficiency, Bogunovic's team identified 10 specific proteins responsible for most of the antiviral protection. They then engineered an mRNA-based therapy, similar in design to COVID-19 vaccines, that prompts cells to briefly produce those through the nose into the lungs of mice and hamsters, the treatment significantly reduced replication of both influenza and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In cell culture tests, the therapy appeared to resist a wide variety of a vaccine, which builds lasting immunity to a specific pathogen, this treatment provides only short-term protection, estimated at three to four days in animals. Researchers say that could make it particularly valuable at the beginning of outbreaks, giving first responders, health workers, and high-risk populations an immediate layer of defense while vaccines are still in therapy also does not interfere with long-term immunity, meaning patients could still develop protective memory after infection or concept remains in early stages. Researchers say improving the delivery system, ensuring enough of the proteins are produced in the right tissues, is the biggest hurdle before moving into human trials. More work is also needed to determine how long protection lasts and how safe repeated dosing might experts say the findings are promising. By activating the body's own antiviral machinery, the therapy could offer a virus-agnostic defense that works even when the identity of a new pathogen is unknown.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Couple gets 2nd chance at having baby as HC gives IVF nod to overage husband
1 2 Kolkata: A couple from Narendrapur received a second chance at having a child through IVF after the Calcutta High Court on Monday allowed the man, now 59 years old, through the process despite him overshooting the age criteria by four years. Justice Amrita Sinha directed an IVF clinic to permit the couple to undergo the procedures for IVF. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) 2021, implemented in 2022, states the service is available to women above 21 years and below 50 and to men above 21 and below 55. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in Kolkata The Narendrapur couple married in 2017. After their failed attempts at having a baby, doctors recommended IVF. The couple approached an IVF clinic in 2019, when the man was aged 53, well within the age limit. But their procedure was halted abruptly in March 2020 as the Covid struck. After the pandemic ended, the couple again visited the IVF centre in 2023. Doctors found that though the woman, 45 at that time, was within the age limit, the husband had reached 57. Turned away, the couple approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking permission to go for IVF. The HC had recently granted permission for IVF to several couples, among whom one of the spouses had slightly overshot the age limit. The Narendrapur couple's counsel, Debangan Bhattacharjee, relied on a judgment by Justice Sinha in a case, in which the husband had also crossed the age bar. In that case, the childless couple, married for 30 years, desired to go in for IVF, but the husband was 58 years old. In that case, Justice Sinha had observed that it would be "sheer injustice" to the woman if she was not allowed to avail of ARTS as her husband was ineligible. "For the ineligibility of the man, the wife ought not suffer," Justice Sinha had observed. Pointing out that the law was enforced in 2022, the Narendrapur couple, in their petition, had raised a question on "what happened to people who had started the fertility procedure before the Act came into being, and suddenly found themselves disqualified during the course of their treatment after the Act was enforced". Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Virtual autism' robbing kids of healthy childhood
Hyderabad: There is no 'safe-limit' when it comes to screen time for children, doctors warn. Doctors in both govt and private hospitals across Hyderabad are witnessing a disconcerting rise in cases of what they are calling 'virtual autism', a condition where children display autism-like symptoms, not due to genetic causes, but triggered by excessive screen time and digital exposure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While previously one or two cases per month were reported, this number has now gone up to three to four times, particularly in younger children. Onset of symptoms Recently, a three-year-old boy from Kacheguda began exhibiting symptoms such as delayed speech and poor social interaction and was treated for this condition. "The child came from a nuclear family that recently relocated from Bihar. With both parents working full time and minimal social engagement, the child's isolation reportedly contributed to the onset of symptoms," said Dr Lokesh Lingappa, paediatric neurologist at a private hospital. He said that while there is no clear demarcation of how much screen time is dangerous, there have cases where children spend eight or more hours on gadgets without any real-world interaction. "This condition impacts the neural network of the brain. Such instances have gone up after the Covid-19 pandemic, where people went into quarantine. While it is considered that adults are long-time sufferers of Covid-19, in reality, it is the children," said Lingappa. Doctors also said that due to increased digitalisation, children are struggling to form thoughts and instincts. "Most of the time, they are constantly shown complete information without the need to think or imagine, which disrupts the brain's natural developmental pathways," said Dr Hemnath S, neurologist at Osmania General Hospital (OGH). He said this environment is causing children to fall behind in basic skills such as speech, decision-making, and emotional expression. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "These are the areas that traditionally develop through face-to-face interaction and exploration," he said. Weak social bonds Another key factor, doctors said, is the growing prevalence of nuclear families and dual-income households. With both parents often occupied with work, screens have become the alternative for children. "Earlier, joint families provided natural social environments for children. Now, with nuclear setups and minimal interaction, emotional bonds are weakening," said Dr Dinesh Kumar, neurologist, Gandhi Hospital. "Children are turning to phones, TVs, and gadgets, which is leading to emotional disconnect and stunted social development." Doctors said that the consequences of this condition lead children to suffer from short attention spans, reduced emotional bonding, poor communication, delayed speech, impaired social interaction, and others. However, they pointed out that unlike conventional autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is lifelong and genetic in nature, symptoms associated with virtual autism can improve or even reverse with early intervention, reduced screen exposure, and therapy. "Many parents believe the symptoms will vanish once screen time is cut. That's not true," said Dr Lingappa. "Therapy, counselling, and structured social exposure are essential. In early childhood, the presence of grandparents or close relatives can make a big difference in preventing this condition." Case Study 3 & half year boy, who is a single child of working parents, was being cared by a housemaid, and was normal till 1.6 years age Parents found that the housemaid gave the kid a phone and does her household chores as the child is busy watching videos Parents also used to give the child phone while eating food Parents noticed the boy was not interacting with them, with zero eye contact, and not speaking any meaningful words He also displayed hand flapping and laughed excessively Boy stopped playing with other kids of his age group and became very irritable GFX - Do's and Don'ts Limit screen & gadget time, especially for children under five Encourage outdoor play & peer interaction Involve grandparents or relatives in early caregiving Increase communication & spend more time with children Seek medical advice if signs of speech delay or social withdrawal are noticed Limit sugar & salt intake for children to avoid hyperactivity & early distractibility
