December 22, 2022

 

The government has taken note of the recent upsurge in measles infection in certain states of the country. As on 12th December, a total of 3,075 infections and 13 deaths due to measles had been reported from the state of Maharashtra. A few other states have also reported measles infections in the year 2022.

Taking note of upsurge of cases from certain districts/cities of Jharkhand, Gujarat and Kerala, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare deployed multi-disciplinary central teams comprising public health specialists, paediatricians and microbiologists to assess the situation and provide technical support to the states.

The central teams noted need for further strengthening of disease surveillance activities, ramping up immunization with measles-containing vaccines, managing vaccine hesitancy through intensive community awareness to cover all unimmunized children, improving case management through timely detection and referral and clinical management of cases. The findings of the central teams along with their recommendations were also formally conveyed to these states to enable them to take suitable necessary action to manage the upsurge of measles cases in the community. The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has coordinated with States/UTs to assist in the management of these cases.

Accordingly, a roadmap for Measles and Rubella Elimination has been prepared and distributed to the States and UTs across India. The roadmap serves as a guidance tool for planning the elimination activities including strengthening of Measles and Rubella vaccine coverage and surveillance. Check out the roadmap here.

In addition, specific advisories have been issued to Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand, regarding key actions to be taken following outbreaks as a part of outbreak response.

A national workshop too has been conducted for apprising the officers of the states and union territories regarding measles and rubella elimination.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravi Pawar, in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, answered on December 20, 2022.

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