WHO Verifies Thailand’s Elimination of Rubella as a Public Health Problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified Thailand for eliminating rubella as a public health problem, marking a major public health milestone in the country’s efforts to protect children, women and families from vaccine preventable diseases. Thailand is now the seventh country in the WHO South East Asia Region to achieve rubella elimination.

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection. Infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), a condition that can result in lifelong birth defects. The disease can be prevented through safe, effective and affordable vaccines.

WHO said Thailand’s achievement demonstrates that rubella elimination is possible when strong political commitment, resilient immunization services, high quality disease surveillance and community trust work together.

“Thailand has shown that rubella elimination is achievable when strong political commitment, resilient immunization services, high quality surveillance and community trust come together. This achievement protects future generations from congenital rubella syndrome and brings the Region closer to eliminating both measles and rubella,” said Dr Nilesh Buddha, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia Region.

WHO Reviewed Evidence Before Verifying Thailand

The Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC) held its annual meeting from June 22 - 23, 2026, during which it reviewed evidence submitted by Thailand’s National Verification Committee.

The evidence included data on disease surveillance, molecular epidemiology, immunization coverage, outbreak response and programme performance.

A verification field visit was subsequently conducted in July 2026, after which the Commission recommended that Thailand be verified for the elimination of endemic rubella virus transmission.

Thailand Becomes Seventh Country in the Region to Eliminate Rubella

With the verification, Thailand has become the seventh country in the WHO South East Asia Region to achieve rubella elimination, joining Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor Leste.

Four countries in the region Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Maldives and Timor Leste  have eliminated both measles and rubella.

Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, Pattana Promphat, described the verification as a proud moment for the country and a tribute to decades of commitment by health workers, volunteers, partners and communities.

“This verification is a proud moment for Thailand and a tribute to decades of commitment by our health workers, volunteers, partners and communities. By eliminating rubella, Thailand has protected newborns from preventable lifelong disabilities and reaffirmed its commitment to equitable health services for every child and family. We will sustain this gain and intensify efforts towards measles elimination,” the minister said.

From Thailand’s Immunization Programme in 1977 to Rubella Elimination

Thailand launched its Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1977 and introduced a rubella containing vaccine into the national immunization programme for six-year-old girls in primary schools in 1986.

In 1993, the programme was expanded to include all children at one year of age.

Since then, Thailand has continued to strengthen routine immunization, outbreak response and disease surveillance systems through close collaboration between national and subnational health authorities.

The programme has also focused on reaching underserved and mobile populations, rapidly investigating suspected measles and rubella cases through fever and rash surveillance, and maintaining laboratory supported surveillance to detect and respond to virus transmission.

WHO Says Thailand Has Systems in Place to Sustain the Achievement

The WHO verification confirms that Thailand has met the required criteria for the interruption of endemic rubella virus transmission and has systems in place to sustain the achievement.

Dr Ailan Li, WHO Representative to Thailand, said Thailand’s success in eliminating rubella reflects many years of commitment and sustained effort.

“Thailand’s achievement in rubella elimination is an important milestone and reflects many years of commitment and sustained effort. WHO is honoured to have worked alongside Thailand throughout this journey and looks forward to continuing close collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and partners to accelerate progress towards measles elimination, while building on this experience to strengthen health systems and advance Thailand’s regional and global health leadership,” Dr Li said.

Thailand’s achievement represents another major step in the country’s long term immunization efforts, while WHO and Thai health authorities are now looking to build on the progress toward the elimination of measles.

 

Source : World Health Organization