Progress Towards Measles Elimination: Oman Experience

The Eastern Mediterranean region has set goals for interrupting indigenous transmission of measles using a strategy developed by the World Health Organization. This strategy includes recommendations for vaccination activities to be achieved and sustained thereby increasing the population’s immunity. Measles epidemiological surveillance systems were developed to monitor illnesses characterized by febrile rash, and to provide effective virus detection and serological surveillance. Elimination is defined as the absence of endemic measles transmission in a defined geographical area (e.g., region or country) for ≥12 months in the presence of a well-performing surveillance system. Oman has committed to these goals.