Why is it in the news?

• India received the ‘Measles and Rubella Champion Award’ from the MR Partnership.
• The MR partnership includes a multi-agency planning committee, comprising organizations such as the American Red Cross, World Health Organization (WHO), and others.

About Measles and Rubella

• Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads through contact with an infected person’s respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing.
• Rubella, also known as German Measles, is an acute and contagious viral infection transmitted through airborne droplets when infected individuals cough or sneeze. Humans are the only known host for the Rubella virus.
• Both Measles and Rubella are vaccine-preventable diseases.
• The Measles and Rubella (MR) Vaccine has been incorporated into India’s Universal Immunization Programme since 2017.