The elimination of endemic rubella and measles transmission in the Region of the Americas was verified by the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Regional Verification Commission in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Upon achieving this success, this Commission was disbanded. Shortly afterwards, the Region faced challenges in the post-elimination era, notably responding to and stopping transmission of imported measles cases. As a result, Brazil and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) lost their measles-free status in February 2019 and July 2018, respectively.

Measles and rubella have long been recognized as priorities for disease prevention because of their devastating consequences for child health; hence, all World Health Organization (WHO) regions currently have a goal to eliminate measles and four out of six WHO regions have a goal to eliminate rubella. Significant global progress has been made in the twenty-first century, with more than 40% of countries in the world verified by a Regional Verification Commission as having eliminated measles and more than 50% of countries having sustained rubella elimination.

Objective

To determine measles and rubella IgG seropositivity in the post-elimination era, based on data generated by the Costa Rican National Reference Center for Virology laboratory at Inciensa from 2012 to 2023. 

Methods

Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study analyzing the frequency of measles IgG and rubella IgG reactivity by enzyme-linked immunofluorescence (ELISA) in 877 subjects. 

Objective

Describe the challenges, strategies and lessons learned in Venezuela during the measles outbreak of 2017–2019, and discuss the mechanisms employed for its containment, which led to the interruption of endemic transmission.

Methods

Descriptive study of the actions taken by Venezuela to interrupt the outbreak. 

Objective

To measure the variation in number of doses, vaccination coverage (VC) of administered vaccines, and number of municipalities that achieved the VC target in Brazil with the implementation of microplanning for high-quality vaccination activities (HQVA) and decentralized multivaccination actions. 

This study searched grey literature and PubMed for strategies to sustain the elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome and prevent their reintroduction in the Caribbean. Strategies were categorized at the macro, meso, and micro health levels.

Objective

To search the literature for evidence on community participation and empowerment practices in primary health care in Latin America. 

Objective

To estimate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the supply, uptake, coverage, and timeliness of vaccination in children under 5 years of age in Ecuador. 

Objective

To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the modified criteria for case definition of congenital syphilis implemented in 2017, which excluded treatment of the sexual partner as a necessary condition for adequate maternal treatment. 

On September 29, 2023, the Republic of Ecuador convened a meeting to address surgical system strengthening and urge political leaders to invest in surgical infrastructure. The meeting included experts in health diplomacy, innovative financing, implementation strategy and national surgical plans. The event occurred in parallel with the Sixtieth Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization, Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Americas.