(Should measles be eradicated?)

Before measles vaccine was introduced, around 5.7 million people worldwide died each year of measles, but in 1995 this total had fallen by 88 per cent. In an Education and Debate paper in this week's BMJ, Cutts and Steinglass consider the feasibility and appropriateness of a potential global programme to eradicate measles by a target date between 2005 and 2010. The authors highlight questions such as, which age range should be targeted by the programme; can safe injection practices be guaranteed; what degree of coverage is truly feasible in poorer countries and what would the effect be on the social development of these countries? Cutts and Steinglass conclude that the international community must address these issues and set priorities before setting goals and time limits for global eradication of measles.

Contact:

Dr Felicity Cutts, Reader, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London [email protected]