title: Progress Toward Measles Elimination - South-East Asia Region, 2003-2013.
abstract: In 2013, the 66th session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region adopted the goal of measles elimination and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome control by 2020 after rigorous prior consultations. The recommended strategies include 1) achieving and maintaining ≥95% coverage with 2 doses of measles- and rubella-containing vaccine in every district through routine or supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 2) developing and sustaining a sensitive and timely case-based measles surveillance system that meets recommended performance indicators; 3) developing and maintaining an accredited measles laboratory network; and 4) achieving timely identification, investigation, and response to measles outbreaks. This report updates previous reports and summarizes progress toward measles elimination in the South-East Asia Region during 2003-2013. Within the region, coverage with the first dose of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) increased from 67% to 78%; an estimated 286 million children (95% of the target population) were vaccinated in SIAs; measles incidence decreased 73%, from 59 to 16 cases per million population; and estimated measles deaths decreased 63%. To achieve measles elimination in the region, additional efforts are needed in countries with <95% 2-dose routine MCV coverage, particularly in India and Indonesia, to strengthen routine immunization services, conduct periodic high-quality SIAs, and strengthen measles case-based surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of measles.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khanal
authors.forename: Umid
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sharapov
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Swezy
authors.forename: Tika
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sedai
authors.forename: Alya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabbagh
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Goodson
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McFarland
mesh_terms: D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060740:Disease Eradication; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011159:Population Surveillance
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine