Death Rate from Measles Drops 91 Percent in Africa

According to the American Red Cross news release, a decline by 91 percent in measle deaths in Africa has brought the numbers down from an estimated 396,000 deaths to 36,000 deaths between the years 2000 - 2006.

The news of the decline was pronounced by The Measles Initiative. The Measles Initiative was launched in 2001 and is currently led by the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, UNICEF, as well as WHO (World Health Organization). The Measles Initiative helps provide financial as well as technical support to governments and communities regarding vaccine campaigns.

Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan states "This is a major public health success and a tribute to the commitment of countries in the African region," she also goes on to add "We need to sustain this success and intensify our efforts in other parts of the world, as there are still far too many lives lost to this disease.".

With the abundance of measle campaigns through out the world, a serious impact has occurred which has reduced global measles deaths immensely. Between 2000-2006, almost 478 million children between the ages of nine months old to 14 years-old have received the measles vaccination with the help of campaigns in 46 of the 47 countries who are severely affected by the Measles disease. Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean areas had the largest numbers of improvement with and estimation of 80 percent vaccinated.

These numbers are an astounding accomplishment, however more work is needed to bring the numbers down even more. The main goal is to cut global measle deaths by 90 percent by 2010. Countries such as India and Pakistan need to work on implementing the same strategy to bring the numbers down. At this time, 74 percent of all measles deaths globally occur in South Asia.

According to the World Health Organization, measles remains a leading cause of death among children, even though there has been an effective vaccine for over 40 years. In 2006 alone, there was approximately 242,000 deaths from the measles disease. If you break those numbers down, that is almost 633 deaths every day or 27 deaths and hour that can be readily avoided.

To learn more facts regarding the measles and where you or your children can be vaccinated, please visit the World Health Organization Website. All findings announced will be published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record and CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Source : American Red Cross - Africa Leads Strong Decline in Global Measles Deaths
http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_7319,00.html