Thailand has been verified for eliminating rubella as a public health problem, the World Health Organization announced on September 5, 2026. It is the seventh country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to reach the milestone, alongside Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste.

The Regional Verification Commission reviewed Thailand's surveillance, immunisation, outbreak response and programme data at its June 22-23, 2026 meeting. A verification field visit in July 2026 followed, after which the commission recommended Thailand for elimination verification.

Thailand introduced rubella-containing vaccine for six-year-old girls in 1986 and extended it to all one-year-old children in 1993. Elimination means no endemic transmission for at least 12 months; it does not mean the virus is gone forever, as imported cases remain possible.

'Thailand has shown that rubella elimination is achievable when strong political commitment, resilient immunization services, high-quality surveillance and community trust come together. This achievement protects future generations from congenital rubella syndrome and brings the Region closer to eliminating both measles and rubella,' said Dr Nilesh Buddha, Officer-in-Charge for the WHO South-East Asia Region. Thailand's next target is measles.