Measles Initiative Surpasses Global Goal to Reduce Measles Deaths by 50 Percent

January 18, 2007 - the Measles Initiative held a press teleconference to announce it has passed its initial, global goal to reduce measles deaths by 50 percent, and to release the calendar year 2005 measles-mortality estimates.  The Lancet will publish a scientific article on the subject in its January 20, 2007, issue.  Measles is the leading vaccine-preventable childhood killer in the world.  

Participants in the teleconference that announced a 60-percent drop in global measles deaths between 1999 and 2005 included the new World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, the Honorable Margaret Chan, M.D.; the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Honorable Ann Veneman; the Chairman of the American Red Cross, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter; the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Julie L. Gerberding, M,D.; and representatives from the United Nations Foundation.

"It’s not very often that global health initiatives not only achieve their goals, but actually exceed their goals faster than expected," said Dr. Gerberding. "I truly believe we will not only exceed this Measles Initiative goal, but we will build on this opportunity to solve the other global health problems that affect not only the children around the world, but many adults as well."

Launched in February 2001, the Measles Initiative is a partnership that has made a long-term commitment to control measles deaths, which started in Africa by vaccinating at-risk children 15 years and younger.  Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, HHS, UNICEF, and the WHO.  Other international organizations and Governments affected by measles are also involved in this effort.

Because of the success of the Measles Initiative in Africa, the program has expanded into Asia.  The Measles Initiative will support the WHO Secretariat's goal to reduce global measles deaths by 90 percent by 2010, compared to the levels in the year 2000.  The Initiative will have a heavy focus on the three countries that account for the majority of global measles deaths: India, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Last revised: October 10, 2007