Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network Support for Elimination Goals 2010-2015.

Printable Copy

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016 May 6;65(17):438-42. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6517a3.

Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network Support for Elimination Goals 2010-2015.

Mulders MN Rota PA Icenogle JP Brown KE Takeda M Rey GJ Ben Mamou MC Dosseh AR Byabamazima CR Ahmed HJ Pattamadilok S Zhang Y Gacic-Dobo M Strebel PM Goodson JL.

Abstract

In 2012 the World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP)* with the objective to eliminate measles and rubella in five World Health Organization (WHO) regions by 2020. In September 2013 countries in all six WHO regions had established measles elimination goals and additional goals for elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome were established in three regions (1). Capacity for surveillance including laboratory confirmation is fundamental to monitoring and verifying elimination. The 2012-2020 Global Measles and Rubella Strategic Plan of the Measles and Rubella Initiative(†) calls for effective case-based surveillance with laboratory testing for case confirmation (2). In 2000 the WHO Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network (GMRLN) was established to provide high quality laboratory support for surveillance (3). The GMRLN is the largest globally coordinated laboratory network with 703 laboratories supporting surveillance in 191 countries. During 2010-2015 742187 serum specimens were tested and 27832 viral sequences were reported globally. Expansion of the capacity of the GMRLN will support measles and rubella elimination efforts as well as surveillance for other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) including rotavirus and for emerging pathogens of public health concern.