Measles elimination is next target for Africa – WHO

African Health Ministers have committed to expand their work on halting any measles cases following new figures which showed that deaths from this “highly preventable” disease were down by up to 90%.

Presenting the report, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo said between 2000 and 2007, deaths had slid down by an estimated 89%. He has also been given another term on this position.

Dr Sambo attributes the progress made on routine immunisation coverage and conducting high quality Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) in different countries. Between 2001 and 2008, 43 countries conducted measles SIAs – vaccinating some 396million children, he said.

Regarding improvements in routine immunisation, 11 countries achieved measles vaccination coverage of 90% or more in 2008 – including Rwanda. However, only Seychelles had 100% of districts with a coverage level of 90%.

Inspite of the impressive successes recorded, according to the report, several challenges need to be addressed in order to sustain the gains achieved in measles mortality reduction, and to prepare for the ultimate goal of measles elimination.

These include continued large-scale measles outbreaks and high measles incidence in some countries such as Nigeria, and inadequate access to routine immunization services. In mid last year, a measles outbreak in northern Nigeria killed 165 children and infected more than 3,000 children before the situation was brought under control.

A dramatic fall in the global death rate from measles was announced two years ago WHO with figures showing that, between 2000 and 2006, fatal cases in Africa dropped 91% to 36,000 from 396,000.

The effect of this success meant that the WHO's target of a 90% measles death reduction in the continent by 2010 was achieved four years ahead of schedule. Worldwide deaths also fell an impressive 68% from 757,000 to 242,000 over the six-year period.