This was endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a letter sent to the Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Well-being by the Verification Commission for the Elimination of Measles and Rubella in Europe, the body that annually evaluates the situation in each country and monitors the progress towards elimination.
The state of elimination of rubella in Spain was achieved for the first time in 2015 and for measles in 2016.
The 233 cases of measles confirmed in our country between 1 January and 21 July 2019 are imported or secondary cases and their transmissions were easily interrupted. No new case of rubella has been detected.
"This is a success for the National Health System", welcomed the Acting Minister for Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Well-being, María Luisa Carcedo. "That is why I wish to thank healthcare professionals for their coordination and strong involvement, firstly, and also the work carried out by the regional health authorities".
"Between us all we have managed to maintain this important achievement", stated María Luisa Carcedo. The minister stressed the high level of vaccination coverage achieved in our country, "which she attributes to the existence of a Common Vaccination Schedule throughout patients' lives and the trust of the Spanish people in the benefits of vaccinations".
This achievement is also attributed to the strength of the Epidemiological Monitoring System in the early detection of cases and the rapid response; the coordination and strong involvement of healthcare professionals at all levels of the system", which ensures the most effective action measures to reduce endemic transmission and avoid its re-emergence"; and the existence of an Elimination Plan for measles and rubella.
Measles and rubella are highly contagious childhood diseases, which may lead to death and serious complications, particularly in young adults.
Furthermore, rubella is particularly dangerous for pregnant women because it can lead to serious congenital malformations.
In order to verify the state of elimination of measles and rubella, the WHO establishes that a country must have a high quality monitoring system and that it can demonstrate three straight years (36 months) with no cases of endemic transmission.
It is considered that no endemic transmission exists when the transmission of the virus lasts for less than 12 months, or, what amounts to the same, when the transmission of the virus is interrupted before the term of one year.
Non official translation
OMS