title: Measles and rubella elimination initiatives in the Americas: lessons learned and best practices.
abstract: Countries in the World Health Organization Region of the Americas successfully interrupted endemic measles virus transmission 8 years after setting a regional measles elimination goal and have sustained this achievement since 2002. The vast experience from the region clearly demonstrates that measles elimination can be accomplished and maintained over time. This brief report summarizes the lessons learned and the best practices that evolved in the Americas during 3 measles elimination phases (ie, preelimination, elimination, and postelimination phases), as well as the contribution of rubella elimination to strengthening and maintaining measles elimination. The effective measures that have been implemented and adapted by the countries of the Americas to eliminate endemic measles and rubella will serve as an example to other countries and regions embarking on this endeavor.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Family Immunization Project, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo-Solorzano
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marsigli
authors.forename: M Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Danovaro-Holliday
authors.forename: Cuauhtémoc
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Matus
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tambini
authors.forename: Jon Kim
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Andrus
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D019985:Benchmarking; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011057:Politics; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine