The unfinished measles immunization agenda.
Despite achieving and sustaining global measles vaccination coverage of about 80% over the past decade, worldwide measles remains the fifth leading cause of mortality among children aged <5 years. In May 2002, the United Nations Special Session on Children endorsed the goal of reducing measles deaths by half by 2005. Countries and World Health Organization (WHO) regions that adopted aggressive measles control or elimination strategies have shown excellent results. In 2001, countries in the Americas reported an all time low of 537 confirmed measles cases. Substantial progress in measles control has also been achieved in the WHO Western Pacific Region, in seven southern African countries, and in selected countries in WHO European, Eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian regions. The ongoing measles disease burden and availability of safe and effective measles mortality reduction strategies make a compelling case to complete the unfinished agenda of measles immunization.
Strebel
Peter
P
Global Immunization Division, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. pms4@cdc.gov
Cochi
Stephen
S
Grabowsky
Mark
M
Bilous
Julian
J
Hersh
Bradley S
BS
Okwo-Bele
Jean-Marie
JM
Hoekstra
Edward
E
Wright
Peter
P
Katz
Samuel
S
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015994:Incidence; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D014944:World Health Organization
D008458:Measles Vaccine