Geneva (dpa) - Measles deaths fell by 74 per cent globally between
2000 and 2007, with countries in the eastern Mediterranean region
cutting the death rate by 90 per cent, the United Nations reported
Thursday.
The Arab states and other countries in the bloc, such as
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia, made the "remarkable" progress
thanks to immunization programmes.
Margaret Chan, the head of the World Health Organization, called
on all states affected by the disease to step up efforts to immunize
children in order to meet the UN's goal of cutting measles deaths by
90 percent by 2010.
Africa also managed to reduce the death toll by 63 per cent during
the reporting period. Outbreaks of the virus last year were
attributed to gaps in immunization coverage.
Worldwide, measles death fell from 750,000 in the year 2000 to
about 197,000 in 2007, according to estimates.
The UN agencies involved in the immunization programmes warned
that funding shortfalls could curtail future efforts to combat the
preventable deaths.
Copyright 2008 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH