Kathmandu — Nepal has officially eliminated rubella as a public health threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced this week, calling the achievement “remarkable.” The viral disease, also known as German measles, poses serious risks to pregnant women and newborns, but is preventable through safe and affordable vaccines.

Nepal’s journey began in 2012 with a nationwide immunisation campaign targeting children aged nine months to 15 years. A second dose was added to the routine schedule in 2016. Despite challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and major earthquakes in 2015 and 2023, the country achieved over 95% vaccine coverage by early 2024.

WHO’s Regional Verification Commission confirmed the elimination on Monday, crediting the success to coordinated efforts between the government, health workers, and local communities.

Innovative strategies such as “immunisation month,” targeted outreach to unvaccinated children, and district-level vaccine drives helped accelerate progress. Nepal also became the first country in WHO’s Southeast Asia Region to implement a new laboratory testing algorithm for rubella surveillance.

This milestone marks a major step toward regional disease eradication and sets a precedent for other nations navigating complex health challenges.