Transition to case based Measles Rubella Surveillance System in the State

Transition to case based Measles Rubella Surveillance System in the State 

NT24News

Chandigarh

State Workshop on Transition to case based Measles Rubella Surveillance System in the State in coordination with WHO – NPSP team is being organized under the leadership of Dr. G. Dewan. The purpose of the Workshop is to disseminate the operational guidelines and framework to implement the smooth transition to case based model in UT, Chandigarh. 

    India has set a goal of measles elimination and rubella/congenital Rubella Syndrome Control  by 2020. As part of key elimination strategies, the country needs to transition to a case based surveillance system, where all states and union territories will move from the existing outbreak surveillance mode to a move intense and sensitive case-based measles-rubella surveillance system. Chandigarh has already achieved the goal of 97% during Mealses Rubella Campaign in 2017.

    Dr. G. Dewan, Director Health & Family Welfare cum Mission Director – National Health Mission said that this system will be built on the already existing platform of laboratory supported MR surveillance and will be scaled up across the country with technical assistance from WHO- NPSP. This will help in timely detection of even low levels of measles and rubella transmission, and also in responding timely on the ground, like active cases search and case management with Vitamin A, for reducing morbidity and mortality. In addition, MR surveillance data generated on state specific epidemiology will guide future immunization strategies across the country including planning for supplementary immunization activities.

   According to WHO estimates, 35% of global measles deaths in 2011 occurred in India. In 2013, India committed to a goal of measles elimination by 2020. Laboratory supported case based measles surveillance is an essential component of measles elimination strategies.