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Review
. 2006 Dec;4(12):900-8.
doi: 10.1038/nrmicro1550. Epub 2006 Nov 6.

Global measles elimination

William J Moss  1 , Diane E Griffin
Affiliations
Review

Global measles elimination

William J Moss et al. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2006 Dec.

Abstract

Measles remains a leading vaccine-preventable cause of child mortality worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where almost half of the estimated 454,000 measles deaths in 2004 occurred. However, great progress in measles control has been made in resource-poor countries through accelerated measles-control efforts. The global elimination of measles has been debated since measles vaccines were first licensed in the 1960's, and this debate is likely to be renewed if polio virus is eradicated. This review discusses the pathogenesis of measles and the likelihood of the worldwide elimination of this disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Immunization coverage with measles-containing vaccines in infants (2004).
The figure was compiled using data provided by the WHO (2005), see Further information for details.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Basic pathogenesis of measles-virus infection.
Panels summarize features of the basic pathogenesis of measles-virus infection. a | Panel shows the spread of the virus through the body from the initial site of infection in respiratory epithelia to the skin, in which the diagnostic rash is formed. Sites of infection are overlaid with virus titre (pfu). b | Illustrates the appearance of clinical symptoms over time, including the diagnostic Koplik's spots and rash. c | Panel summarizes immune responses over time, including both B- and T-cell responses. Clinical symptoms arise coincident with the onset of the immune response. Pfu; plaque-forming unit. Modified with permission from Ref. © (2001) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Measles virus vaccines.
Most attenuated measles vaccines were developed from the Edmonston strain of measles virus. The Edmonston B vaccine was the first licensed measles vaccine but was associated with a high frequency of fever and rash. The further attenuated Schwarz and Edmonston-Zagreb vaccines are widely used throughout the world, although the Moraten vaccine is the only measles vaccine used in the United States. Modified with permission from Ref. (1993) WHO.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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