According to the WHO latest data, 454 000 people (vast majority of them are children) died of measles in 2004 compared to 871 000 in 1999 - a 48% plunge.
The WHO-UNICEF Global Plan’s goal is now to reduce the mortality by 90% by 2010, complying therefore with the Millennium Development Goals, whereby the under-five mortality rate shall be reduced by two-third between 1990 and 2015. Routine measles vaccination coverage is used as an indicator.
The data also confirm that sub-Saharan African countries benefit the most from the reduction with a drop of 60% - region of the world with the highest burden of the disease. However, progress are slower in South Asia
Between 1999 and 2004, the WHO and UNICEF concentrated their activities to increase and improve the routine immunization of children in countries that were most affected - 47 countries account for about 98% of global measles deaths. They also worked on strengthening the disease surveillance and monitoring.
The result is that in five year time, nearly 500 million children were immunized against measles.
The WHO and the UNICEF acknowledge that such a progress was made possible thanks to the Measles Initiative, which supports vaccination efforts through fund-raising.
Launched in 2001, the Measles Initiative is co-presided by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, UNICEF and WHO. Partners range from governments to Foundations, non governmental organisations, health workers and multinational firms.
Facts and figures about measles
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known;
More than 30 million people are affected each year by measles;
A safe, effective and cheap vaccine has been available since the 1960s;
The vaccination costs less than 1 US dollar per person;
and yet, measles remains a major killer of children in the developing world: 410 000 children under five died from measles in 2004;
Many of the survivors are left with lifelong disabilities, including blindness and brain damage.
