Progress toward measles mortality reduction and elimination--Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1997-2007

In 2005, the World Health Assembly set a goal of achieving a 90% reduction in global measles mortality by 2010, compared with levels in 2000. Eight years earlier, in 1997, the 22 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) had resolved to eliminate measles from their region by 2010. To reach these two goals, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean developed a four-pronged strategy: 1) achieve and maintain > or =90% vaccination coverage of children with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) in every district of each country through routine immunization services, 2) achieve > or =90% vaccination coverage with the second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) in every district either through a routine 2-dose vaccination schedule or through supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), 3) establish case-based surveillance with investigation and laboratory testing of all suspected cases of measles, and 4) provide optimal clinical-case management, including supplementation of diets with vitamin A. This report summarizes the progress made in the EMR during 1997-2007 toward reducing mortality from measles and eliminating measles from the region. Countries in the EMR reduced the number of measles-related deaths by approximately 75% from 2000 to 2007. However, large measles outbreaks continue to occur throughout the region, suggesting that much work remains to eliminate measles in the EMR.