title: Global eradication of measles: an epidemiologic and economic evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measles remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Due to the success of the measles mortality reduction and elimination efforts thus far, the WHO has raised the question of whether global eradication of measles is economically feasible.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cost-effectiveness of various measles mortality reduction and eradication scenarios was evaluated vis-à-vis the current mortality reduction goal in six countries and globally. Data collection on costs of measles vaccination were conducted in six countries in four regions: Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, and Uganda. The number of measles cases and deaths were projected from 2010 to 2050 using a dynamic, age-structured compartmental model. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were then calculated for each scenario vis a vis the baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measles eradication by 2020 was the found to be the most cost-effective scenario, both in the six countries and globally. Eradicating measles by 2020 is projected to cost an additional discounted $7.8 billion and avert a discounted 346 million DALYs between 2010 and 2050.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the study found that, compared to the baseline, reaching measles eradication by 2020 would be the most cost-effective measles mortality reduction scenario, both for the six countries and on a global basis.
authors.affiliation: MathEcology, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Louis P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauch
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babigumira
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Alya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabbagh
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008457:Measles / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018803:Models, Economic; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine