- According to the latest measles surveillance data released by the WHO, India stood fourth among 194 countries in the number of measles cases registered between July 2018 and June 2019.
- Madagascar had the highest number of measles cases registered, followed by Ukraine and Philippines.
- According to WHO, children under the age of one gets infected the most in India and have the highest incidence rate of 76.4 per million population. The second highest rate of incidence occurs in children in the age group of 1-4 years.
- Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. It can be entirely prevent with a two-dose vaccine.
- Under the Global Vaccine Action Plan, WHO has targeted to eliminate measles by 2020.
- Eleven member states of World Health Organization South-East Asia Region (WHO SEAR) have committed to eliminate measles by 2020 at the 66th session of the WHO regional committee. India is a part of WHO SEAR.
- India has initiated the world’s largest Measles-Rubella (MR) Campaign in 2017. It targets vaccination of 410 million children and adolescents aged between 9 months and 15 years.
