Global measles deaths plunge by 48% over past six years
Global deaths due to measles fell by 48%, from 871 000 in 1999 to an estimated 454 000 in 2004, thanks to major national immunization activities and better access to routine childhood immunization, the agencies said. These measles mortality data, calculated by WHO, are the latest available.
"Measles remains a major killer of children in the developing world, but it doesn't have to be," UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said. "Just two doses of an inexpensive, safe, and available measles vaccine can prevent most, if not all, measles deaths."
WHO and UNICEF have concentrated measles mortality reduction activities in 47 countries that account for about 98% of global measles deaths, working primarily to improve routine immunization as well as providing treatment to children with measles and strengthening disease surveillance. Supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) have also proven to be especially effective: from 1999 to 2004, nearly 500 million children were immunized against measles.