India’s plan to eradicate measles, rubella

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News? 
•  What is Measles? 
• What is Rubella? 
• What is the Difference between Rubella and Measles?
• Are Measles & Rubella Preventable?
• India’s Plan to Eliminate Measles & Rubella (MR)
• Disruptions caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic
• What is Mission Indradhanush? 

 

Why in News?  

• In 2019, the Central government adopted the goal of measles and rubella elimination by 2023. 
• Earlier, the goal was to eliminate measles and rubella by 2020. However, due to variety of reasons it had been delayed.

 

What is Measles? 

• Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus.
• Measles is caused by a virus found in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult.
• Who is at risk? 
  • Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death. Unvaccinated pregnant women are also at risk. 
  • Any non-immune person (who has not been vaccinated or was vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected.
  • Measles is still common in many developing countries – particularly in parts of Africa and Asia.

 

What is Rubella? 

• Rubella is a contagious infection caused by a virus. It is best known by its distinctive red rash. 
• It's also called German measles or three-day measles. 
• This infection may cause mild or no symptoms in most people. 
• However, it can cause serious problems for unborn babies whose mothers become infected during pregnancy.

 

What is the Difference between Rubella and Measles? 

• Rubella isn't the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some signs and symptoms, such as the red rash. 
• Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles, and rubella isn't as infectious or as severe as measles.

 

Are Measles & Rubella Preventable?

• Both measles and rubella can be prevented by just two doses of a safe and effective vaccine. 
• Over the past two decades, the measles vaccine is estimated to have averted more than 30 million deaths globally, as per the World Health Organization’s statistics.

 

India’s Plan to Eliminate Measles & Rubella

• The Measles virus is one of the world’s most contagious human viruses that kills more than 1,00,000 children every year globally.
• Meanwhile, Rubella is a leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects, according to the WHO.
• During 2010–2013, India conducted a phased measles catch-up immunisation for children aged 9 months–10 years in 14 States, vaccinating approximately 119 million children.
• Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 to ramp up vaccinating the unvaccinated population.
• During 2017–2021, India adopted a national strategic plan for measles and rubella elimination.
  • During the same period, the Government introduced rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into the routine immunisation programme.

 

Disruptions caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic

• In November 2022, India had recorded more than 12,000 cases of measles. 
• Public-health researchers say that the revival of measles in India — mostly in four large cities — is happening because millions of children didn’t get vaccinated in 2020, owing to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 
• On top of this, researchers say there has been persistently low coverage in routine immunizations of new-borns for the past few years, which has contributed to the current outbreak.
• Vaccine hesitancy is also an issue in some communities. These areas can be a breeding ground for outbreaks.
• Positive Takeaway – 
• Estimated coverage with the first dose of a measles- and rubella-containing vaccine increased from 68% to 89% in 2021. 
• Estimated coverage with the second dose of a measles-containing vaccine increased from 27% to 82% in 2021. 
  • During 2017–2021, measles and rubella incidence declined 62% and 48%, respectively.

 

What is Mission Indradhanush? 

• Mission Indradhanush (MI) was launched in December 2014  as a special drive to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under UIP.
• The Mission focuses on interventions to improve full immunization coverage for children in India from 65% in 2014 to at least 90% earlier than 2020.
• Till date, ten phases of Mission Indradhanush have been completed covering 701 districts across  the country. 
• No separate funds are allocated for Mission Indradhanush. Funds allocated for Routine Immunization are being utilized by the states to carry out activities under Mission Indradhanush.

 

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Q1) Which Diseases are Covered under Mission Indradhanush?

The programme provides vaccination against eight life-threatening diseases (diphtheria, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) causing pneumonia and meningitis, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B) in the entire country.

 

Q2) What is the main cause of Diphtheria?

Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin. It is the toxin that can cause people to get very sick.

 

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Source: Explained | India’s plan to eradicate measles, rubella | Nature.com