A global campaign has cut the number of deaths from measles
dramatically, but they are still way above target, and every day, there are
nearly 400 deaths from the illness.
Back in 2000, 535,000 died every year.
By 2010, that total had fallen to 139,000 – a reduction of 74%, but the
target had been to achieve a 90% drop. Unicef
says every death could have been prevented by vaccination.
The campaign had been progressing well until 2007 when a vaccination
programme stalled in India, with the authorities (perhaps distracted by the
effort to eliminate polio) trying to make do with giving children just one
injection to protect them when two were needed. In
addition, there were major outbreaks in southern Africa.
A new combined vaccine against measles and rubella is being launched,
with a new target of a further 95% drop in deaths from the 2000 level by
2015.
*I was interviewed about the Titanic the other day by BBC Somerset. It's posted here:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoCfD2kzNm8&list=HL1335275415&feature=mh_lolz
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