Measles deaths in Africa fell by 91% between 2000 and 2006, from an estimated 396 000 to 36 000, reaching the United Nations 2010 goal to cut measles deaths by 90% four years early. The spectacular gains achieved in Africa helped generate a strong decline in global measles deaths which fell 68% from an estimated 757 000 to 242 000 during the same time period.
The progress was announced on the 29th November 2007 by the founding partners of the Measles Initiative: the American Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations Foundation, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The data will be published in the November editions of the WHO World Epidemiological Record and CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, hailed this achievement as a “remarkable success in combating vaccine-preventable diseases, and reducing overall childhood mortality”. He encouraged partners and governments in the African Region to build on this success by increasing their commitment to achieve and sustain high immunisation coverage against measles as well as other vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
The significant decline in measles deaths in Africa was made possible through the firm commitment of national governments to fully implement the measles mortality reduction strategy, which includes providing measles vaccination to all children under the age of one; conducting mass vaccination campaigns to provide infants and children a second opportunity for measles vaccination; continuing surveillance for measles; and providing enhanced care, including supplemental vitamin A, for measles cases.
Between 2001 and 2006, more than 304 million children in 40 countries in the Region were given a second opportunity for measles vaccination through mass vaccination campaigns.
The gains made thus far can be sustained by reaching high level coverage through the routine immunisation programme, and by continuing to provide a second opportunity for measles vaccination through periodic follow-up campaigns. To learn more visit the Measles Initiative.
