Abstract and Introduction
Introduction
The United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals include a goal (MDG 4) to achieve a two thirds overall reduction of child deaths by 2015 compared with the 1990 level.[1] Because many unvaccinated children die from measles, routine measles vaccination coverage is used as an indicator of progress toward this goal. In 2008, all UN member states reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a 90% reduction in measles mortality by 2010 compared with 2000, from an estimated 733,000 deaths in 2000 worldwide to ≤73,300 by 2010.[2] The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have identified 47 priority countries with the highest burden of measles for an accelerated strategy for measles mortality reduction.[3] The strategy includes 1) achieving and maintaining high coverage (≥90% nationally and ≥80% in each district) with 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) delivered through routine services or supplemental immunization activities (SIAs),[4] 2) implementing effective laboratory-supported disease surveillance, and 3) providing appropriate clinical management for measles cases. This report updates a previously published report,[5] provides details on activities implemented during 2008, assesses progress toward the 2010 goal, and evaluates the potential effects of decreased financial support. During 2000–2008, global measles mortality declined by 78%, from an estimated 733,000 deaths in 2000 to 164,000 in 2008, but the reduction in measles mortality has been leveling off since 2007. To reach the 2010 goal, India should fully implement the recommended strategies, and financial support for sustaining measles control in the other 46 priority countries should be secured.
Immunization Activities
WHO and UNICEF estimate routine first dose MCV coverage (MCV1) among children aged 1 year based on data from administrative records and surveys.* Coverage levels achieved during measles SIAs† are estimated by dividing the reported number of doses administered by the target population. According to WHO and UNICEF estimates, global routine MCV1 coverage increased to 83% in 2008, up 1% from 2007. Coverage varied substantially by geographic region (Table 1); coverage in the WHO African Region (AFR) and the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) in 2008 was still < 80%. Of the 22.7 million infants and young children in 2008 who missed receiving their first dose of measles vaccine through routine immunization services,§ approximately 58% reside in six countries: India (7.63 million population), Nigeria (2.04 million), China (1.10 million), Democratic Republic of the Congo (0.84 million), Pakistan (0.75 million), and Ethiopia (0.74 million).
During 2000–2008, a second opportunity for measles immunization was provided in 46 of the 47 priority countries¶ (except India) to approximately 686 million children aged 9 months to ≤20 years through SIAs. In 2008, 16 (34%) of these countries conducted SIAs reaching approximately 109 million children and adolescents; in 13 countries, the measles SIAs were combined with at least one other child-survival intervention (Table 2).
Surveillance Activities
Effective surveillance for measles entails establishing case-based surveillance that includes investigation and laboratory testing of samples from all suspected measles cases.** In 2008, 173 (90%) of 193 WHO member states had implemented case-based surveillance, compared with 120 (63%) countries in 2004 (earlier data are not available). In 2008, the WHO measles and rubella laboratory network provided standardized and quality-controlled measles and rubella testing for 183 countries (95%), compared with 71 countries (37%) in 2000.
In 2008, 180 countries (94%) reported measles surveillance data to WHO and UNICEF through the annual Joint Reporting Form,†† compared with 169 countries (88%) in 2000. Worldwide, the number of reported measles cases declined 67%, from 852,937 in 2000 to 278,358 in 2008. All regions reported a decrease in reported measles cases; the highest percentage reductions occurred in the WHO Region of the Americas (AMR) (99.9%) and AFR (93%), and the lowest in SEAR (3.6%). However, large outbreaks occurred in several AFR countries during 2008, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12,461 reported cases), Ethiopia (3,511), Niger (1,317), and Nigeria (9,960).
Mortality Estimates for 2008
Despite progress in measles surveillance and reporting globally, measles incidence remains underreported, and complete and reliable surveillance data on the number of measles deaths are lacking for many countries, particularly those with the highest disease burden. To estimate measles mortality, WHO used 1) the published natural history model,[6] §§ updated with the most recent population data,[7] 2) WHO/UNICEF routine MCV1 coverage estimates and reported SIA coverage, and 3) measles incidence as reported to WHO.
In 2008, the majority (77%) of measles deaths occurred in SEAR (Table 1). During 2000–2008, global mortality attributed to measles declined by 78%, from an estimated 733,000 deaths in 2000 to 164,000 in 2008 (Table 1, Figure), but the decline leveled off during 2007–2008 (Figure). The regional percentage reduction in estimated measles mortality reached the 2010 target of 90% in the AFR, Eastern Mediterranean Region, and Western Pacific Region, which accounted for 60%, 17%, and 4% of the global reduction in measles mortality, respectively. In 2008, the 47 priority countries accounted for 160,000 (98%) of the estimated 164,000 measles deaths globally.
Figure.
Estimated number of measles deaths worldwide, 2000–2008,* and worst case/status quo projections† of possible resurgence in measles mortality, 2009–2013
* Based on Monte Carlo stimulations that account for uncertainty in key input variables (i.e. vaccination coverage and case fatality ratios).
† Projected "worst case" scenario assumes that none of 47 priority countries carry out catch-up or follow-up supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) during 2010–2013. Under this assumption, routine first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage remains at the 2008 levels during 2009–2013 in the 47 priority countries, but continues to increase at current rates in all remaining countries. Projected "status quo" scenario assumes that SIAs will continue to be conducted during 2010–2013 in 46 of the 47 priority countries (excluding India); routine MCV1 coverage remains at the 2008 levels among countries with ≥90% coverage in 2008, and increases 1% per year among lower-performing countries. The 47 priority countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zambia
§ 95% uncertainty intervals.
Cumulatively, an estimated 12.7 million measles deaths were averted during 2000–2008; of these, 8.4 (66%) million deaths were averted by maintaining routine immunization coverage at the 2000 level, and an additional 4.3 million (34%) deaths were averted as a result of measles SIAs and increases in routine vaccination coverage.
Global Mortality Projections, 2010–2013
Since 2008, the funding for measles control activities declined, causing concerns about the possible effect of reduced funding support on global measles mortality.[8] During 2007–2009, total financial support to the Measles Initiative¶¶ decreased from $150 million annually to approximately $50 million (Measles Initiative, unpublished data, 2009). In addition, many priority countries have not been able to raise the expected 50% of operational costs for SIAs.
The natural history model[6] was used to project global measles mortality for the period 2010–2013. Two projections were considered. The first, a "worst case" projection, assumes that routine MCV1 coverage in the 47 priority countries remains at the 2008 levels during 2009–2013, and that none of these countries carry out follow-up SIAs during 2010–2013; assumptions for all other countries are that they continue to increase routine MCV1 coverage at current rates and conduct regular high-quality SIAs as required. The second, a "status quo" projection, assumes that SIAs will be conducted during 2010–2013 in 46 of the 47 priority countries (India will not implement an SIA during 2010–2013, the same as during 2000–2009), and that routine MCV1 coverage remains at the 2008 levels among countries with ≥90% coverage in 2008 and increases 1% per year among lower performing countries.
Results from these projections suggest that, under the worst case scenario, the annual number of measles deaths will rebound, resulting in approximately 1.7 million measles-related deaths during 2010–2013, including approximately 500,000 deaths in 2013 alone (Figure). Even if MCV1 coverage continues to increase at the current rate and if SIAs continue to be implemented in 46 of the 47 priority countries, as assumed in the status quo scenario, the projected global mortality during 2010–2013 will continue to level off at approximately 151,000–163,000 deaths annually if India does not implement "catch-up" SIA campaigns (Figure).
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2009;58(47):1321-1326. © 2009 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Cite this: Global Measles Mortality, 2000–2008 - Medscape - Dec 04, 2009.
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