New York Times (April 25, 2012)
Measles Deaths Said to Drop
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 25, 2012
LONDON (AP) — The number of measles deaths worldwide has apparently
dropped by about three-quarters over a decade, according to a new study
by the World Health Organization and others.
Most of the deaths were in India and Africa, where not enough children
are being immunized.
Health officials estimate that about 9.6 million children were saved
from dying of measles from 2000 to 2010 after big vaccination campaigns
were rolled out more than a decade ago. Researchers guessed that the
number of deaths fell during that time period to about 139,300 from
535,300, or about 74 percent.
But scientists had solid data for only 65 countries. For the 128 others
surveyed, they used modeling to come up with their estimates.
Despite the major dent, the progress fails to meet a W.H.O. target to
cut measles deaths by 90 percent by 2010.
“This is still a huge success,” said Peter Strebel, a measles expert at
W.H.O. and one of the authors of the study. “You don’t reduce measles
deaths by three-quarters without significantly accelerating efforts.”
He noted that the global 85 percent vaccination coverage rate was the
highest recorded.
The study was paid for by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and was published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet.
Measles is one of the most infectious diseases and affects mostly
children. It causes a fever, cough and a rash. The disease kills about
one to two children for every 1,000 it infects and can also cause
pregnant women to have a miscarriage.
In recent years, it has surged in Europe — the number of people
infected since 2007 has tripled. Doctors say cases are rebounding there
because people do not realize how serious measles is and are skeptical
of the vaccine.
Last year was the worst year for measles in the United States in 15
years, with 222 cases — mostly imported by visitors or residents
infected overseas
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