(THE GIST OF PIB) Measles and Rubella

(APRIL-2025)

The Measles-Rubella (M-R) Elimination Campaign 2025–26 aims to achieve 100% immunisation coverage by administering two doses of the M-R vaccine to all eligible children.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects young children and can lead to serious complications or death, especially in malnourished children or those with weakened immunity.
It is caused by an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus, classified under the genus Morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family, with only one serotype.
Common complications include blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infections, and pneumonia.
It spreads through respiratory droplets and remains one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths globally.

Also known as German Measles, Rubella is a mild viral infection that predominantly affects children and young adults.
It is caused by the Rubella virus, an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus.
Rubella is less infectious and milder than measles, but it poses a major risk during pregnancy.
Infection in pregnant women may lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which causes irreversible birth defects like deafness, heart defects, and intellectual disabilities.
Rubella and measles may have similar rash symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses.