Kuwait has successfully halted the active transmission of measles and rubella for 12 consecutive months, Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi said on Monday, citing confirmation from the World Health Organization.

Speaking at the opening of the Third Kuwait Public Health Conference, Al-Awadhi said the achievement reflects sustained high vaccination coverage and an effective, strengthened disease surveillance system.

Kuwait has reported single-digit measles cases in recent years, according to the latest available statistics from WHO. In 2024, seven cases were recorded, slightly higher than the six cases reported in 2023. In 2021, the total stood at three cases. Earlier years show wider fluctuations. Kuwait recorded 12 cases in 2019, a drop from 42 in 2018. The highest numbers in the dataset were reported in the mid-2010s, with 55 cases in 2014 and 62 in 2013. Overall, the data shows a long-term decline from the higher case counts seen a decade ago to consistently low numbers in recent years. The country reported one case of Rubella in 2024 after years of zero cases.