Even as the number of deaths due to measles decreased by 71 per cent between 2000 and 2011 globally from 5,42,000 to 1,58,000, an estimated 20 million children worldwide did not receive the first dose of vaccine in 2011, of this number an estimated 6.7 million live in India. Significantly, a large outbreak of measles was reported from India during the same time period with 29,339 recorded cases in 2011, suggested a new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
More than half of estimated children who did not receive first dose of the vaccine are also from countries like Democratic Republic of the Congo (0.8 million), Ethiopia (1 million), Nigeria (1.7 million), Pakistan (0.9 million). Most of these countries are in WHO regions and have committed to eliminate measles by 2015 or 2020.
During 2000-2011, annual reported measles incidence decreased 65 per cent, from 146 to 52 cases per one million population.
The new cases dropped 58 per cent from 8,53,500 in 2000 to 3,55,000 in 2011. “All regions and India had substantial reductions in estimated measles mortality, ranging from 36 per cent to 90 per cent”. During 2000-2011, the number of measles cases reported worldwide each year decreased and measles incidence decreased 65 per cent, from 146 to 52 cases per million population per year, with declining cases and incidence reported in almost all WHO regions,” said the report.
According to the report, during 2000-2011, the number of countries providing a second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) through routine services also increased from 97 (50%) to 141 (73%). Overall, 225 million children received measles vaccination during 39 supplemental immunisation activities (SIAs).
However, WHO experts felt that the measles outbreaks pose a serious
challenge to the regional elimination efforts and signal where national health systems and routine immunisation programmes need strengthening.