WHO verifies measles and rubella elimination in three African island nations

AFRICA—Cabo Verde, Mauritius, and Seychelles have become the first sub-Saharan African countries to eliminate measles and rubella.

The World Health Organization’s African Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination verified this achievement following its October 2025 meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The commission reviewed extensive programmatic and surveillance data before confirming that these three small island nations have interrupted endemic transmission of both viruses for more than 36 months.

All three countries maintain high-quality disease surveillance systems capable of rapidly detecting and containing any imported cases.

Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, praised the accomplishment as a major public health achievement.

He emphasized that this success demonstrates what countries can achieve when they prioritize prevention and make vaccines a cornerstone of their health systems.

Cabo Verde has fully funded its immunization program since 1998 and maintained vaccination coverage above 90% for two decades.

The country has not reported a confirmed measles case since 1999, while the last confirmed rubella cases occurred in 2010.

Jorge Figueiredo, Cabo Verde’s Minister of Health, described the moment as historic for the entire African region.

Mauritius has not reported measles cases since 2019.

The country responded decisively to a 2018–2019 measles outbreak by strengthening vaccination and surveillance efforts.

By 2024, the nation achieved 98% coverage for the first measles-mumps-rubella vaccine dose and 96% for the second dose.

Junior Minister of Health and Wellness Anishta Babooram stressed that sustaining elimination status requires constant vigilance and immediate response to any imported cases.

Seychelles has maintained over 95% coverage for both measles vaccine doses for more than two decades.

The country contained its last measles outbreak in 2020 and has not confirmed rubella cases since 2016.

Health Minister Marvin Fanny credited the dedication of the Extended Programme on Immunization team for this achievement.

These three countries now join 94 and 133 others globally that have eliminated measles and rubella respectively.

Both diseases spread through airborne transmission, with measles potentially causing severe complications and death in young children, while rubella can cause irreversible birth defects during pregnancy.

Since 2001, African countries have implemented comprehensive measles control strategies that prevented an estimated 21 million deaths between 2000 and 2023.

Regional immunization coverage has improved significantly, with first-dose measles-rubella vaccine coverage reaching 71% in 2024, up from 67% in 2022.