| 30th
January, 2007
The
global number of measles deaths dropped by as much as 60 per
cent between 1999 and 2005, according to figures from the
World Health Organisation.
While annual global deaths dropped from 873,000 deaths in
1999 to 345,000 in 2005, in Africa the drop in the number
of deaths was even more marked. There, deaths fell 75 per
cent, from 506,000 to 126,000.
The drop followed a concerted campaign to reduce measles mortality,
including a push to provide measles vaccinations to all infants.
As many as 360 million children aged between nine months and
15 years were vaccinated during the period.
Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, describes the result
as an “historic victory”.
“Our promises to cut measles deaths by half and save
hundreds of thousands of lives has not only been fulfilled,
it has been surpassed in just six years with Africa leading
the way.”
World health authorities are now working toward a new goal:
reducing global measles deaths by as much as 90 per cent by
2010, based on 2000 figures.
~ www.who.org
- DAVID ADAMS
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