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WHO SE Asia Region plans to banish measles AND rubella by 2023
Why is it in news?
- Member-countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region have resolved to eliminatemeasles and rubella by 2023.
More in news
- A resolution to eliminate the diseases was adopted at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in Delhi.
- Measles is particularly dangerous for the poor - as it attacks malnourished children and those with reduced immunity
- It can cause–
(1) Blindness,
(2) Encephalitis
(3) Severe diarrhoea
(4) Ear infection
(5) Pneumonia
- While rubella/congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) causes irreversible birth defects.
- Eliminating measles will prevent 500,000 deaths a year in the region, while eliminating rubella/CRS would avert about 55,000 cases of rubella.
- Measles elimination and rubella control has been a regional flagship priority since 2014.
- How have other countries performed
(1) Countries who have eliminated Measles - Bhutan, North Korea, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste
(2) Countries who have controlled Rubella - Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste.
Source
The Hindu