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Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/75817/India/Measles+toll+highest+in+India.html
Measles toll highest in India
Savita Verma
New Delhi, December 21, 2009
India's poor vaccination performance is impeding global measles control measures. Three of four children who died of the infection across the globe last year were from India.
Much progress has been made in reducing measles deaths globally. But South-East Asia, especially countries such as India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, is jeopardising efforts to achieve the UN goal of reducing measles deaths 90 per cent from the 2000 level in 2010. All the regions - except South-East Asia, where measles deaths declined just 46 per cent between 2000 and 2008 - have achieved this goal.
"Three of four children who died from measles last year were from India," Unicef executive director Ann M. Veneman said.
Delayed implementation of vaccination campaigns in India is largely accountable for this lack of progress, the WHO says.
The National Technical Advisory Group in India has recommended supplementary immunisation with measles vaccine in states which have less than 80 per cent coverage of routine immunisation.
However, officials said no decision had been taken on this. UP, Bihar and Rajasthan are bad performers in terms of vaccination coverage.
"More than 400 children die every day from this preventable infection in the world. Measles can make a rapid comeback if we don't make progress. We saw this happen in the US between 1989 and 1991, when an estimated 55,000 measles cases and more than 130 deaths occurred," Dr Thomas R. Frieden, director, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said.
An estimated 4.3 million deaths caused by measles have been prevented in less than a decade by vaccinating 700 million children, according to the WHO. However, the disease is highly contagious and can re-emerge at the slightest lapse, experts said.
The world is facing a funding gap of $59 million (Rs 275 crore) for 2010, which could lead to resurgence of measles deaths.
Decreased political and financial commitment could result in an estimated 1.7 million deaths between 2010 and 2013.
Measles toll highest in India
Savita Verma
New Delhi, December 21, 2009
India's poor vaccination performance is impeding global measles control measures. Three of four children who died of the infection across the globe last year were from India.
Much progress has been made in reducing measles deaths globally. But South-East Asia, especially countries such as India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, is jeopardising efforts to achieve the UN goal of reducing measles deaths 90 per cent from the 2000 level in 2010. All the regions - except South-East Asia, where measles deaths declined just 46 per cent between 2000 and 2008 - have achieved this goal.
"Three of four children who died from measles last year were from India," Unicef executive director Ann M. Veneman said.
Delayed implementation of vaccination campaigns in India is largely accountable for this lack of progress, the WHO says.
The National Technical Advisory Group in India has recommended supplementary immunisation with measles vaccine in states which have less than 80 per cent coverage of routine immunisation.
However, officials said no decision had been taken on this. UP, Bihar and Rajasthan are bad performers in terms of vaccination coverage.
"More than 400 children die every day from this preventable infection in the world. Measles can make a rapid comeback if we don't make progress. We saw this happen in the US between 1989 and 1991, when an estimated 55,000 measles cases and more than 130 deaths occurred," Dr Thomas R. Frieden, director, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said.
An estimated 4.3 million deaths caused by measles have been prevented in less than a decade by vaccinating 700 million children, according to the WHO. However, the disease is highly contagious and can re-emerge at the slightest lapse, experts said.
The world is facing a funding gap of $59 million (Rs 275 crore) for 2010, which could lead to resurgence of measles deaths.
Decreased political and financial commitment could result in an estimated 1.7 million deaths between 2010 and 2013.