The Americas Are Now Officially 'Measles-Free'

[TexasTowelie]

The Americas are now free of measles, the first region in the world to achieve that goal, the Pan American Health Organization announced this week. The success is credited to the effectiveness of mass vaccination programs over the past 22 years.

Yet measles remain a significant problem in other parts of the world, public health officials warn. There were 244,704 cases reported in 2015. And outbreaks could still pop up in the Americas if unvaccinated travelers spread the disease.

To find out more about the status and risks of measles, we spoke to Dr. Seth Berkley, the CEO of GAVI, a Geneva-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve and provide vaccine and immunization coverage to children in the world's poorest countries. (Note: GAVI's funders include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is also a funder of NPR and this blog.) The interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Read more: http://tpr.org/post/americas-are-now-officially-measles-free

[longship]

1. Measles is very scary infective!

But the vaccine is very effective. Get your MMR vaccine! Make sure your kiddies get it, too! Measles is a horrible disease that can be eliminated, only if people get the vaccine.

Get your vaccines, folks!

[Dale Neiburg]

2. Well said!

I had measles long before vaccine was available (as in 1950). After I finally recovered, the pediatrician told my parents I had the worst case he'd ever seen where the patient survived. In fact, years later we learned that he had my death certificate on his desk, with only the date and time left blank. He took it as a foregone conclusion that I wouldn't make it.

[longship]

3. I had measles in the early fifties, too.

And yes, what I remember was pretty damned horrible. My sisters were also afflicted at the same time, as measles is extremely contagious. Herd immunity is most important. Get yer vaccines, people.

[Javaman]

4. cue the anti-vaxx that will now claim that vaccination are no longer necessary. nt