Cambodia launches campaign against measles, rubella

Cambodia has introduced a new vaccine in its national immunisation campaign Monday which aims to protect children against two viruses -- measles and rubella -- in a single dose.

The biggest nationwide immunisation campaign in the country's history aims to vaccinate over four million children aged between nine months to 15 years, reported Xinhua citing a joint statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Cambodia's health ministry.

The campaign will be rolled out in every village, commune and district in three phases in October, November and December, the statement said.

"This nation wide campaign will protect children from measles and the rubella syndrome," it added.

Rubella outbreaks, which occur every few years in Cambodia, can have long-lasting consequences for babies born with congenital rubella syndrome that leads to blindness, deafness and heart disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that at least 260 children are born every year with congenital rubella syndrome in Cambodia, with the number of cases rising to 1,400 during outbreaks.