NEW YORK/GENEVA, January 19, 2007 — Measles deaths have fallen by 60 percent worldwide since 1999 – a major public health success. This exceeds the United Nations goal to halve measles deaths between 1999 and 2005 and is largely due to an unprecedented decline in measles deaths in the African region. The progress was announced today by partners in the Measles Initiative: the American Red Cross, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to new data from WHO, global measles deaths fell from an estimated 873,000 deaths in 1999 to 345,000 in 2005. In Africa, the progress has been even greater, with measles deaths falling by 75 per cent, from an estimated 506,000 to 126,000. The data will be published in this week’s edition of The Lancet.
"This is an historic victory for global public health, for the power of partnership and commitment by countries to fight a terrible disease," said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of World Health Organization. "Our promise to cut measles deaths by half has not only been fulfilled, it has been surpassed in just six years with Africa leading the way. We must now build on this momentum in order to reach our next ambitious goal – an even more sweeping reduction in measles deaths."
The 75 per cent reduction in measles deaths in Africa is due to the firm commitment and resources of national governments, and support from the Measles Initiative. It is described as "a spectacular achievement," by Mr. U Olanguena Awono, Minister of Public Health, Cameroon. "We are winning the fight against measles, which has long killed, sickened and disabled our children. Our determination is stronger than ever to make measles history by further strengthening our measles control activities, working in concert with our international partners and setting aside resources."
A strategy to reduce measles mortality, consisting of four components, has been key to ensuring the massive global decrease in measles deaths. The strategy calls for the provision of one dose of measles vaccine for all infants via routine health services; a second opportunity for measles immunization for all children, generally through mass vaccination campaigns; effective surveillance for measles; and enhanced care, including the provision of supplemental vitamin A.
As a result of this strategy, between 1999 and 2005, global measles immunization coverage with the first routine dose increased from 71 per cent to 77 per cent, and more than 360 million children aged 9 months to 15 years received measles vaccine through immunization campaigns.
"One of the clearest messages from this achievement is that with the right strategies and a strong partnership of committed governments and organizations, you can rapidly reduce child deaths in developing countries," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Accelerated measles control activities are contributing to the development of health infrastructure to support routine immunization and other health services through promotion of safe injection practices, increased ‘cold chain’ capacity for vaccines storage, and the development of a global public health laboratory network.
In addition, measles vaccination campaigns are contributing to the reduction of child deaths from other causes. They have become a channel for the delivery of other life-saving interventions, such as bed nets to protect against malaria, de-worming medicine and vitamin A supplements. Combining measles immunization with other health interventions is a contribution to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal Number 4: a two-thirds reduction in child deaths between 1990 and 2015.
"Reducing measles deaths by 60 per cent in just five years is an incredible achievement, said UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman. "Immunizing children is clearly saving lives and contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We must urgently build on this momentum with integrated community-based health programs to help save the lives of the over 10 million children who die of preventable causes every year."
There is still some way to go in the fight against one of the world’s most contagious diseases. Of the estimated 345,000 measles deaths in 2005, 90 percent were among children under the age of five – many dying as a result of complications related to severe diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis.
The challenge now is to reach a new global goal: the reduction of global measles deaths by 90 percent by 2010, compared to 2000 levels. This means that the gains made in countries that have implemented accelerated measles control strategies must be sustained, and the similar strategies must be implemented in countries with high numbers of measles deaths, such as India and Pakistan.
"How could we deny the gift -- and the right -- of growing up to millions of children?" said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the American Red Cross. "Today, more than 100,000 Red Cross Movement volunteers are delivering that gift in Africa alone. Thanks to the great generosity and dedication of our donors and partners, entire communities have been reached with lifesaving health information, saved from the pain of measles by neighbors who care enough to encourage them to get vaccinated. We see children in America willing to share their allowance money with their unseen neighbors in Africa, neighbors they will never know. The American Red Cross is proud to be part of a mission where so many young lives have been saved … and we look forward to helping save millions more."
The challenge now is to sustain the gains made in countries that have conducted nationwide measles immunization campaigns and to expand them to the remaining large countries with high numbers of measles cases such as India and Pakistan.
"The success of the Measles Initiative has added to the confidence of national governments and donor partners to undertake large scale efforts to make a significant impact on disease prevention," said Kathy Bushkin Calvin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the United Nations Foundation. "Collaboration at every level including shared decision-making and therefore shared responsibility among all partners has strengthened and enhanced each partner’s contribution while increasing the impact on mortality reduction."
Background
The Measles Initiative, launched in 2001, supports government’s efforts to tackle measles deaths. The Measles Initiative is spearheaded by the American Red Cross, CDC, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and WHO. To date, the Initiative has mobilized more than US $300 million to provide technical and financial support to national campaigns. With increased resources, the Measles Initiative will support measles campaigns in all regions of the world in 2007 and 2008.
Other key players in the fight against measles includes the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Japanese Agency for Development Cooperation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Becton, Dickinson and Company, the Izumi Foundation, The Vodafone Group Foundation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Exxonmobil and countries and governments affected by measles.
For more information:
Melinda Henry, WHO, Geneva; Tel.: +41 22 791 2535; Email: henrym@who.int
Jessica Malter, UNICEF, New York; Tel.: +1 212 326 7412; Email: jmalter@unicef.org
Julie Irby, American Red Cross, Washington DC; Tel.:+ 1 202 439 0722; Email: IrbyJ@usa.redcross.org
Steven Stewart, CDC, Atlanta; Tel.: +1 404-639-8327; Email: znc4@cdc.gov
Amy DiElsi, UN Foundation, Washington DC; Tel.: +1 202 419 3230; Email: adielsi@unfoundation.org
Related Links:
"Estimating Measuring Global Measles Mortality: Has the 2005 goal been achieved?"
The Lancet, 19 January 2007; Vol. 369, pages 191-200.
WHO Measles Fact Sheet: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/index.html
WHO/UNICEF Global Plan for Reducing Measles Mortality 2006-2010 (http://www.who.int/vaccines-documents/DocsPDF06/WHO_IVB_05_11.pdf)
