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Measles and Rubella (MR)

2023 JAN 24

Preliminary   > Social Justice   >   Health   >   Diseases

Why in news?

  • India had set a target to eliminate measles and rubella (MR) by 2023, having missed the earlier deadline of 2020, due to a variety of reasons, exacerbated by disruptions due to the pandemic.

About Measles:

  • Measles is an acute viral respiratory illness.
  • Measles is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus with 1 serotype. It is classified as a member of the genus Morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family.
  • Humans are the only natural hosts of measles virus.
  • It is particularly dangerous for children from the economically weaker background, as it attacks malnourished children and those with reduced immunity.
  • It can cause serious complications, including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia.
  • Transmission:
    • Measles is one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases; up to 9 out of 10 susceptible persons with close contact to a measles patient will develop measles.
    • The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.

About Rubella:

  • It is also called German Measles.
  • Rubella is a contagious, generally mild viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults.
  • It is caused by the rubella virus which is an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus.
  • Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause death or congenital defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) which causes irreversible birth defects.
  • Rubella isn't the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some signs and symptoms, such as the red rash.
  • Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles, and rubella isn't as infectious or as severe as measles.

Vaccination:

  • Measles and rubella can be prevented with measles/rubella-containing vaccine, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
  • During 2017–2021, India adopted a national strategic plan for measles and rubella elimination.
  • During the same period, the Government introduced rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into the routine immunisation programme.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding Measles:

1. India has eliminated Measles disease among children in 2020.

2.Measles is a highly contagious viral disease.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer