Question: Which country has been recently declared measles-free by WHO?
(a) China
(b) South Africa
(c) India
(d) Sri Lanka
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that measles disease has been eradicated in the island nation of Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka’s achievement comes at a time when measles cases are increasing globally.
- The country reported its last case of measles caused by an indigenous virus was in May, 2016.
- Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons.
India’s Progress:
- India is still far from achieving this milestone. According to latest Global Measles and Rubella Update, India had 56,399 confirmed measles cases and 1,066 confirmed rubella cases in 2018.
- India has resolved to eliminate measles and control rubella/congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2020.
- India has 2.9 million children unvaccinated against measles, the second highest number after Nigeria.
About WHO:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of United Nations that is concerned with international public health.
- It was established on 7th April, 1948.
- Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland
- President: Tendros Adhanom
Links:
http://www.searo.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2019/1712/en/
http://www.searo.who.int/india/topics/measles/MR-campaign-web-success-story/en/
https://indianexpress.com/about/measles-vaccine/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization