Eleventh Meeting of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination
Venue: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dates: 22-23 June 2026
Participants: SEA-RVC Chair and members; representatives of National Verification Committees (NVCs) from all ten Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region; Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Sri Lanka; WHO headquarters, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, Western Pacific Region and WHO country offices; UNICEF; Measles and Rubella Partnership; observers; and other technical partners participated in the meeting, with some participants joining virtually.
Purpose: The 11th SEA-RVC meeting, convened by WHO-SEARO, reviewed country progress reports submitted by NVCs, assessed evidence against the regional verification framework, classified countries by measles and rubella elimination status, and provided recommendations to accelerate and sustain elimination in the Region.
Details: The 11th Meeting of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination reviewed country reports submitted by the National Verification Committees of all 10 Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region, assessing evidence on interruption of endemic transmission, laboratory-supported surveillance quality, population immunity, outbreak preparedness and programme performance. 
Based on the evidence reviewed, the Commission verified that endemic rubella has been eliminated one more member state, subject to further field verification.
It also confirmed that measles elimination has been sustained in Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Maldives and Timor-Leste, and that rubella elimination has been sustained in Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste.
The commission also assesses that rubella transmission might have stopped in some countries and require filed verification.
The Commission also verified the re-establishment of measles transmission in Sri Lanka, while recognizing the measures taken to contain it.
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand were classified as endemic for measles transmission, and Bangladesh, India and Myanmar as endemic for rubella transmission. 
The Commission acknowledged the important progress made across the Region and noted that all Member States are now working in elimination mode and concerned on large scale outbreaks and importation of measles across the region. The commission cautioned that the 2026 regional target may not be achieved without urgent, accelerated and sustained action.
The Commission called on countries and partners to strengthen evidence for verification, close remaining immunity and surveillance gaps, reinforce outbreak preparedness, and sustain political and financial commitment to protect every community from measles and rubella.
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Author: Sudhir Khanal, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, Regional Adviser- Accelerated Disease Control
Photo: 11th SEA-RVC meeting in progress (© WHO SEARO)