Measles Eradication by Vaccination: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Measles is one of the vaccine preventable viral diseases that mainly occur in children. The disease was targeted for elimination by a vaccination program that was initiated three decades back. The measles death rate decreased by 74% from the year 2000 to 2010. This was short of targeted 90% mainly because of low vaccine coverage in some countries. Although, there is marked reduction in measles morbidity and mortality, still it accounts for 380 children deaths every day and mostly in children below the age of five years. Two major factors that contribute are low vaccine coverage in some countries and periodic, prolonged outbreaks. In many of the developed countries the measles is imported by unvaccinated travellers. The eradication of measles is a possibility considering its stability, only human reservoir and availability of effective vaccine. The major opportunities available are the national immunization schedule, effective vaccine, and reliable laboratory diagnosis. The main challenges to eliminate measles virus from a region and subsequent global eradication include a high coverage of vaccination, effective surveillance, increased sample collection from suspected and transmission chain cases, accurate laboratory diagnosis, epidemiological investigation, analysis of data, timely detection of outbreaks and response. The implementation of two vaccine strategy in all regions further helps to reduce the burden of measles. Unless stringent measures are taken, the eradication of measles appears to be a distant prospect.