AFRICA - Measles major killer of children in developing countries: 48% drop in lethal cases in last six years

Rome (Fides Service) - Thanks to a vast vaccination campaign between 1999 and 2004 the number of deaths caused by measles has been halved.
The number of deaths caused by measles dropped 48% from 871,000 in 1999 to 454,000 in 2004. The steepest decline in deaths caused by measles was registered in countries in the Sub-Saharan, the region of Africa most affected by the disease where the number of cases and deaths drooped by 60%. Compared with Africa, slower progress was made in southern Asia.
To prevent most if not all deaths caused by measles two doses of safe and inexpensive vaccine are sufficient. In the fight against measles WHO and UNICEF concentrated efforts on 47 countries where about 98% of deaths caused by measles are registered. Supplementary vaccination efforts were effective: 500 million children were vaccinated between 1999 and 2004.
Measles is a major cause of death for children and is one of the most contagious known diseases. It is nearly always an uncomfortable, benign and moderately serious illness. The most serious forms strike mainly children who are undernourished or whose immune system has weakened. The death is not usually caused directly by measles but by complications such as diarrhoea or severe pneumonia.
Measles is a major killer of children in developing countries. Number of registered deaths for measles: 216,000Sub-Saharan, region of Africa; 202.000 in southern Asia, 32,000 in east Asia and the Pacific, 4,000 in the Middle East and North Africa, 1000 in Europe and Asia Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. (AP) (14/3/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:26; Parole:319)