Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign:All Guidelines and Formats & FAQs of MRVC
What are Measles and Rubella?
Measles is a contagious disease caused by the virus of the paramyxovirus family, which spreads through coughing and sneezing of an infected person. In 2015 alone, more than 49,000 children died of measles in India.
Rubella is a mild viral illness which leads to a series of serious consequences if infected during early pregnancy and is known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome.
Burdens of Measles
Globally, an estimated 1,34,200 deaths were caused from measles in 2015, even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available. Measles has killed an estimated 49,200 children in 2015 in India, contributing nearly 36% to the global figures.
Burdens of Rubella
Rubella, although a mild viral illness, can lead to serious consequences if infected during early pregnancy, leading to abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth.
It also causes a set of congenital anomalies in the foetus and newborns known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which is a cause of public health concern.
CRS is characterized by multiple defects, particularly affecting the eyes (glaucoma, cataract), ears (hearing loss), brain (microcephaly, mental retardation) and heart - many of which are lifelong disabilities, requiring treatment, surgeries and other expensive care throughout life.