Field Guidelines For Measles Elimination

This guide describes in detail the current challenges and activities needed to interrupt measles transmission, to prevent and respond rapidly to emerging measles outbreaks, and to ensure sensitive surveillance is in place. It is presented in a form that can be readily adapted by national immunization managers to suit country situations.

These field guidelines provide countries with a technical resource to use in developing comprehensive standard operating procedures for measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome surveillance. The largest part of these guidelines is devoted to developing a surveillance system for cases of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, including case investigation, outbreak response, laboratory procedures for measles and rubella testing and surveillance monitoring and feedback. This publication is primarily intended for use by surveillance and national immunization managers and their staff, but many other health professionals and technical staff working in surveillance, immunization and laboratories at the country level will find it useful in improving measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome surveillance. It can be used at various levels of the health care system and countries can adapt the guidelines according to their local situations.

"These field guidelines provide countries with a technical resource to use in developing comprehensive standard operating procedures for measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome surveillance. The largest part of these guidelines is devoted to developing a surveillance system for cases of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, including case investigation, outbreak response, laboratory procedures for measles and rubella testing and surveillance monitoring and feedback. This publication is primarily intended for use by surveillance and national immunization managers and their staff, but many other health professionals and technical staff working in surveillance, immunization and laboratories at the country level will find it useful in improving measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome surveillance. It can be used at various levels of the health care system and countries can adapt the guidelines according to their local situations"--Back cover.

The Regional Strategy and Plan of Action for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Western Pacific was endorsed by the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee in 2017. This document was developed in consultation with Member States and technical partners through carefully analysing the unsolved issues and emerging challenges that led to the regional resurgence of measles and outbreaks of rubella during 2013-2016. The document will guide development of national plans of action for achieving and sustaining measles and rubella elimination with country-specific strategies and activities that are tailored for addressing issues and challenges faced by each country and area of the region.