The partners leading the efforts to control measles on Tuesday announced a new global strategy aimed at reducing measles deaths and `congenital rubella syndrome' to zero.
According to a joint statement made available to PANA in New York, the announcement comes with the publication of new data using a state-of-the-art methodology showing that accelerated effort was reducing death from measles.
“The strategy has resulted in a 74 per cent reduction in global measles mortality, from an estimated 535,300 deaths in 2000 to 139,300 in 2010, and vaccination has been key to this progress.''
Through increased routine immunisation coverage and large-scale immunisation campaigns, sub-Saharan Africa made the most progress with an 85 per cent drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2010, according to a new study published in today’s Lancet.
Since 2001, the Measles Initiative has supported developing countries to vaccinate over one billion children against measles.
Now, in keeping with the new Global Measles and Rubella Strategic Plan to control and eventually eliminate measles and rubella, the initiative is called the Measles & Rubella Initiative.
Measles and rubella elimination naturally go hand-in-hand, as measles and rubella vaccines are routinely combined in a single shot.
“A three-quarters drop in measles deaths worldwide shows just how effective well-run vaccination programmes can be,'' the statement quoted WHO Director-General Margaret Chan as saying.
“Now we need to take the next logical step and vaccinate children against rubella, too.''
Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to humankind and an important cause of death and disability among children worldwide.
Those unvaccinated against the disease are at risk of severe health complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and encephalitis (a dangerous infection of the brain causing inflammation) and blindness.
The disease can be fatal, and the vast majority of measles deaths occur in developing countries.
Rubella, transmitted through airborne droplets, is generally a mild illness.
But when a pregnant woman becomes infected, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy, serious consequences can occur including miscarriages, still births, and infants born with birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).
The most common congenital defects include lifelong heart problems, deafness or blindness (cataracts).
The new Strategic plan presents a five-pronged strategy to cut global measles deaths by at least 95 per cent by 2015, compared with 2000 levels, and to achieve measles and rubella elimination in at least five WHO regions by 2020.
The strategies include: high vaccination coverage; monitoring spread of disease using laboratory-backed surveillance; outbreak preparedness and response and measles case management; communication and community engagement; and research and development.
The partners leading the initiative are WHO, American Red Cross, UNICEF, Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and the UN Foundation.(PANA/NAN)