Measles deaths decline, but elimination progress stalls in some regions

The number of measles deaths globally decreased by 71% between 2000 and 2011, from 542,000 to 158,000. Over the same period, new cases dropped 58% from 853,500 in 2000 to 355,000 in 2011, according to new data released by WHO. 

Unprotected population

Despite this global progress, some populations remain unprotected. An estimated 20 million children worldwide did not receive the first dose of vaccine in 2011. More than half of these children live in five countries: 

1. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (0.8 million)
2. Ethiopia (1 million) 
3. India (6.7 million) 
4. Nigeria (1.7 million)
5. Pakistan (0.9 million)

Measles outbreaks 

In 2011, large measles outbreaks were reported in all these countries and several others: 

• DRC (134,042 cases) 
• Ethiopia (3255 cases) 
• France (14,949 cases) 
• India (29,339 cases) 
• Italy (5189 cases) 
• Nigeria (18,843 cases) 
• Pakistan (4386 cases) 
• Spain (3802 cases) 

Most of these countries are in WHO regions which have committed to eliminate measles by 2015 or 2020. 

World Health Assembly agreed milestones 

In 2010, the World Health Assembly established three milestones towards the future eradication of measles to be achieved by 2015: 

1. increase routine coverage with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) for children aged 1 year to ≥90% nationally and ≥80% in every district or equivalent administrative unit; 
2. reduce and maintain annual measles incidence to <5 cases per million; and 
3. reduce estimated measles mortality by >95% from the 2000 estimate.

Source: WHO, Geneva, 17 January 2013