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Human Virology in Latin America pp 291–306Cite as

Measles and Rubella in the Americas: The Path to Elimination

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Abstract

Measles infection was almost universal in the population before vaccination. It caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths in 1980, before measles vaccine was used globally. Rubella, also known as German measles, is less infectious than measles and causes a common mild self-limiting illness of children and young adults. Rubella has particular public health importance because it is a teratogenic virus; infection in early pregnancy may have potentially devastating effects on the developing fetus, causing a number of anomalies known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The live attenuated measles and rubella vaccines are highly effective and have been available since 1963 and 1969, respectively. Both have an excellent safety profile. In the early 1990s, several Latin American countries (LAC) developed effective control programs for measles. A range of strategies pioneered by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) included combinations of high routine vaccine coverage and mass campaigns together with sensitive, case-based surveillance based on a capable diagnostic laboratory network. The range of approaches developed enabled LAC to interrupt measles and rubella transmission. Sustained elimination of rubella and measles circulation in the region were verified in 2015 and 2016, respectively. As measles and rubella continue to circulate in many regions of the world, maintaining good population vaccine coverage and surveillance to detect and respond to imported cases will be an important challenge for the Americas. The elimination of measles and rubella in the region over a substantial period is a historic achievement and serves as an example for other regions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Measles/Rubella National (MoH) and Regional (WHO) Reference Laboratory- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz- FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Marilda Mendonça Siqueira & David W. G. Brown

  2. National Infection Service, Public Health England-London, London, UK

    David W. G. Brown

Authors
  1. Marilda Mendonça Siqueira
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  2. David W. G. Brown
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Correspondence to Marilda Mendonça Siqueira .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Center for Research and Advances Studies, Mexico City, Mexico

    Juan Ernesto Ludert

  2. Centro de Microbiologia y Biologia Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela

    Flor H. Pujol

  3. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Juan Arbiza

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Siqueira, M.M., Brown, D.W.G. (2017). Measles and Rubella in the Americas: The Path to Elimination. In: Ludert, J., Pujol, F., Arbiza, J. (eds) Human Virology in Latin America. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54567-7_15

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