Bhutan and the Maldives have eliminated measles, becoming the first countries in their region to stop the highly contagious disease, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. WHO said the Maldives has not reported any case of Indigenous measles since 2009, and Bhutan since 2012. Bhutan and the Maldives launched immunization programs around 40 years ago with a strategy of mass vaccination of high-risk populations. Last year, North and South America were declared free of measles, but last month an outbreak was reported in Minnesota. Measles, a viral disease which is spread through coughing and sneezing, can lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation, hospitalization or death, mainly among children.

Source: CBC News June 13, 2017 12:45 UTC