Meeting on prevention and control of measles outbreaks in the Caucasus: Tbilisi, Georgia, 10–11 July 2013

ABSTRACT

Representatives from the ministries of health of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the World Health Organization, the Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation (RVF), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) met in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 10–11 July 2013 to discuss progress towards the 2015 measles and rubella elimination target for the WHO European Region and plan a response to the current measles outbreaks in the Caucasus subregion. The country representatives agreed on comprehensive efforts for the coming year to close immunity gaps in the population and prevent further spread of the disease within and across their borders; while partners pledged technical and possible financial support to develop and implement the planned responses. These efforts will start as soon as possible and major activities should be completed by mid–2014.