Roadmap to elimination- standard measles and rubella surveillance

The Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) for 2012–2020, endorsed by the 194 WHO Member States at the 65th World Health Assembly in May 2012, calls for the elimination of measles and rubella in at least 5 of the 6 WHO Regions by 2020. While elimination of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) has been verified in the Region of the Americas, and endemic measles virus transmission eliminated in several countries of other WHO regions, the recent Measles and Rubella Global Strategic Plan 2012–2020, Midterm Review reported that progress for elimination was not “on track” and concluded that it was critical to “re-orient the [measles and rubella elimination] program to increase emphasis on surveillance so that programmatic and strategic decisions can be guided by disease data”.