The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has announced that rubella has been eliminated in Australia in a landmark import for the state .

In an announcement yesterday , Australian health minister Greg Hunt said they have been successful in eliminating the disease via a home immunisation program . This provided free vaccination for nestling aged 12 month and a booster at 18 months , .

" The elimination of rubella is a great sidereal day for public health in Australia and sends a sinewy message that inoculation act upon , " Hunt said in astatement .

" I remember the efforts of Australia ’s health professionals over the decades and the millions of parent who secure their children are always vaccinated . "

Rubella , also known asGerman morbilli , can cause a skin rash and symptoms let in sickness , a low febricity , and conjunctivitis . Some people do not realize they have it as it is so minor , but it can be very severe for significant women , specially those in the first 10 weeks of gestation .

There have been just two vitrine of German measles in Australia this twelvemonth , following a number of epidemics . In 1958 , there were more than 5,000 cases . In 1963 - 64 , there were more than 3,000 case , and in the early 1990s there were more than 4,000 registered compositor’s case , in data supplied by Hunt . But the excreting is a testament to how successful Australia ’s program of tackling rubella has been .

“ The science is in and the medical experts ’ advice is downright – vaccinations carry through lives and protect biography and they are an all important part of a healthy company , ” Hunt said .

The immunisation rates for 5 - twelvemonth - old reached their highest public figure on record last workweek at 94.62 pct . This year alone , the government has indue $ 446.5 million in the National Immunization Program .

The nation is now one of more than 30 that have been successful in eliminating rubella , with the list including Sweden , Greece , and Iceland , notedThe Guardian . It was also confirmed by the WHO that Australia had maintained its elimination of measles , which was verified in 2014 .

“ Australia has high - perform surveillance system to rapidly detect and react to rubella case and today ’s ratification this disease has been eliminated is testimonial to the winner of our National Immunization Program , ” added Hunt .