8th meeting of the European regional verification commission for measles and rubella elimination (RVC) (2019)

12–14 June 2019 Warsaw, Poland

The European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC) met for the eighth time on 12-14 June 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. Eight members of the RVC evaluated national annual status updates (ASUs) and other relevant documents for 2018 from all 53 Member States. The RVC concluded that, as of the end of 2018, 37 Member States provided evidence to demonstrate that endemic transmission of measles was interrupted. Of these, 35 provided evidence to demonstrate the elimination of endemic measles (interrupted transmission for at least 36 months in the presence of a high-quality surveillance system). Endemic rubella transmission was interrupted in 42 Member States, of which 39 provided evidence to demonstrate the elimination of endemic rubella. Thirty-three Member States provided evidence for the elimination of both measles and rubella. The RVC also concluded that 12 Member States were measles endemic, 11 Member States were rubella endemic and nine Member States were endemic for both measles and rubella. Due to continuous transmission of measles in 2017 and 2018, the RVC concluded that measles transmission was re-established in four countries that had previously eliminated endemic measles transmission. The RVC and RVC Secretariat strongly encourage and support urgent strengthening of measles and rubella elimination activities in the WHO European Region.