WHO Certifies Nepal’s Elimination Of ‘German Measles’
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that Nepal has eliminated rubella as a public health problem. This achievement is attributed to the country’s concerted efforts in immunisation, including nationwide vaccination campaigns and routine immunisation programs.
WHO described rubella (German measles) as a highly contagious viral infection that is particularly serious for pregnant women, as infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a range of lifelong and debilitating birth defects.
Disclosing this in a statement on its website on Monday, the global health body noted that rubella is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines.
It stated that Nepal is the sixth country in the WHO South-East Asia to achieve rubella elimination. The country introduced the rubella-containing vaccine in 2012 with a nationwide campaign for age group nine months to 15 years. A second dose of rubella-containing vaccine was added to the routine immunisation schedule in 2016.
The statement noted that four national campaigns with rubella vaccines in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, helped increase access, despite major public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes in 2015 and 2023.
It added that Nepal achieved over 95 per cent coverage by 2024, for at least one dose of the rubella vaccine.
It further highlighted that innovative strategies such as observing ‘immunisation month’, outreach to vaccinate missed children, and motivation for the districts to be declared ‘fully immunised’, provided further impetus to elimination efforts.
WHO also underscored Nepal’s recent effort to further strengthen surveillance by introducing a robust laboratory testing algorithm, the first in the WHO South-East Asia Region to do so.
Prioritising elimination of measles and rubella as public health problems in the WHO South-East Asia by 2026, the global health body noted that Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, and Timor-Leste have eliminated measles, and Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and now Nepal, have eliminated rubella.
The Minister of Health and Population in Nepal, Mr. Pradip Paudel, congratulated the country, attributing the achievement to the success of the national immunisation programme ahead of the regional target.
“Nepal’s achievement of rubella elimination is yet another testament to the success of the national immunization program ahead of the regional target, which has long been one of the strongest pillars of our health care system. Gavi and WHO’s steadfast support to the programme and the overall health sector in Nepal is deeply valued and acknowledged.
“I take this moment to thank and congratulate all the leaders, health workers, volunteers and community members who’ve contributed to this achievement. And I call upon all stakeholders to continue their unwavering support so that no child in Nepal has to suffer from a vaccine-preventable disease,” Paudel said.
Nepal’s elimination of rubella was certified by the South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC), during its annual meeting held from 22-24 July 2025.
SEA-RVC reviewed and evaluated information and data submitted by the national verification committee on measles and rubella disease surveillance and immunization coverage rates, and recommended verification of rubella elimination in Nepal.
While endorsing the recommendation of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination in SEA-RVC for Nepal to be verified for eliminating rubella, the Officer-In-Charge WHO South-East Asia, Dr Catharina Boehme, commended the commitment of the country’s leadership.
“Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, persistent efforts of the health care workers and volunteers, and unstinting support of engaged and informed communities, for a healthy start for babies and a future free of rubella disease,” Boehme said.
WHO Certifies Nepal’s Elimination Of ‘German Measles’ is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
