UN Chronicle | Measles: Unnecessary Deaths and Disabilities

Measles: Unnecessary Deaths and Disabilities
By Consuelo Remmert for the Chronicle

Web Article

Despite a general decline of measles deaths over the last decade, UN health agencies declared that the viral infection affects over 30 million children and claims the lives of 750,000 every year.

The main cause of high measles morbidity and mortality is the underuse of an effective vaccine that costs only 25 cents per dose, including safe injection equipment. Measles immunization is the most cost-effective of all health campaigns, but control strategies are not accurately implemented, especially in the developing world. Data collected in 2001 show that 98 per cent of measles deaths occurred in developing countries, principally in Africa and Asia. The disease is highly contagious and thus requires a level of immunization of at least 90 per cent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) developed the Global Measles Strategic Plan, a joint effort in the battle against measles. Both UN agencies are coordinating with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and numerous experts to halve the number of measles deaths by 2005. The control of measles epidemics would reduce worldwide childhood mortality by 10 per cent.

The four strategies to reduce mortality consist of routine immunizations with the first dose of the measles vaccine administered at 9 months of age, a guaranteed second opportunity for vaccination, measles surveillance and individual case management. The Plan also aims to reduce indigenous measles transmissions. Over large geographical areas, effective vaccination programmes bring about "herd immunity", the indirect protection of unimmunized individuals.

Measles immunization offers other health benefits, among them the prevention of complications such as blindness, deafness, malnutrition and pneumonia. Vaccination opportunities can be combined with the administration of higher doses of vitamin A and immunization against rubella.

Successful immunization campaigns in several countries prove that preventing death from measles is possible. WHO estimates that over the next 10 years, the implementation of the Strategic Plan could save the lives of 2.3 million children in Africa.

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