WHO Africa

Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles have eliminated measles and rubella

Cabo Verde, Mauritius, and Seychelles have become the first sub-Saharan African countries to eliminate measles and rubella.

The three countries were verified by the African Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination, established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Their achievement placed them among the 94 and 133 countries globally that had eliminated measles and rubella, respectively.

Over the past decade, regional strategies implemented across Africa have helped reduce measles deaths by 79%, preventing nearly 21 million deaths by 2023. The success was built on regional strategies implemented since 2001, which helped reduce measles deaths by 79% and prevent nearly 21 million deaths across Africa by 2023.