Brazzaville, 29 November 2007 -- Measles deaths in Africa fell by 91% between 2000 and 2006, from an estimated 396 000 to 36 000, reaching the regional target three years early. The spectacular gains achieved in Africa helped generate a strong decline in global measles deaths which fell 68% during the same time period.

The progress was announced today by the founding partners of the Measles Initiative: the American Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations Foundation, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO). The data will be published in the November editions of the WHO World Epidemiological Record and CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, hailed this achievement as a “remarkable success in combating vaccine-preventable diseases, and reducing overall childhood mortality”. He encouraged partners and governments in the African Region to build on this success by increasing their commitment to achieve and sustain high immunization coverage against measles as well as other vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.

The significant decline in measles deaths in Africa is made possible through the firm commitment of national governments to fully implement the measles mortality reduction strategy which includes providing measles vaccination to all children under the age of one; conducting mass vaccination campaigns to provide infants and children a second opportunity for measles vaccination; continuing surveillance for measles; and providing enhanced care, including supplemental vitamin A, for measles cases.

Between 2001 and 2006, more than 304 million children in 40 countries in the Region were given a second opportunity for measles vaccination through mass vaccination campaigns.

The gains made so far can be sustained by reaching high level coverage through the routine immunization programme, and by continuing to provide a second opportunity for measles vaccination through periodic follow-up campaigns.

In the African Region, measles supplementary immunization activities have also provided a platform for delivering other child survival interventions such as the distribution of insecticide-treated bednets to protect young children and mothers against malaria, administering de-worming medicine and providing vitamin A supplements to young children. The integrated delivery of essential child health interventions is a major step to reach the target for Millennium Development Goal Number 4: a two-thirds reduction in under-five deaths between 1990 and 2015.

The strong support from local and global partners such as the Measles Initiative is another key factor contributing to the progress in reducing measles deaths in the Region. Since its launch in 2001, the Initiative has supported vaccination efforts in over 50 countries and mobilized more than US$ 470 million with help from partners such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.

Background

The Measles Initiative is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. Launched in 2001, the Initiative—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 and WHO—provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.measlesinitiative.org.

Other key partners in the fight against measles include GAVI, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Canadian International Development Agency, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Becton-Dickinson and Company, Izumi Foundation, Vodafone Group Foundation, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, ExxonMobil, and countries and governments affected by measles.

For more information contact:

Media contact:

Sam Ajibola, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo;

Tel.: + 47 241 39378;

E-mail ajibolas [at] afro.who.int

Technical contact:

Dr Balcha Masresha, Brazzaville,

Tel.: +47 241 39314;

E-mail masreshab [at] afro.who.int