Japan Tops Rubella Threat as Elimination Declared
The World Health Organization declared Japan free of endemic rubella in 2025 after a nationwide vaccination drive that expanded to vaccinate men and improve screening. This followed a 2012–2013 outbreak that produced 45 Congenital Rubella Syndrome cases and 11 deaths. Infections fell from over 14,000 in 2013 to 10 in 2021, driven by advocacy from families affected by rubella and a push for wider immunization. Experts caution that vigilance is still needed to prevent reintroduction from abroad, so maintaining high vaccination coverage remains essential.