View article

Despite the public heath goal of elimination of both measles and rubella by 2020 in at least five WHO regions, to date only the Region of the Americas has achieved this objective. 2 In the Western Pacific Region only two countries have confirmed the elimination of rubella and measles; 3 therefore, the likelihood of realising the goal of reducing and eradicating measles and rubella in all member countries in this region in the target time frame is challenging. 4 As such, the policy measures instituted in Japan for the systematic approach to elimination of rubella can be a valuable reference for countries that intend to interrupt the endemic transmission of measles and rubella.

Since achieving elimination of measles in 2015, Japan has coveted rubella elimination as well. Japan experienced a nationwide outbreak of rubella between 2012 and 2013, 5 resulting in more than 16 000 cases of rubella and 45 cases of congenital …