Global Measles Deaths Drop By 74%

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Measles deaths worldwide fell by 74% between 2000 and 2007, from an estimated 750,000 to 197,000. In addition, the Eastern Mediterranean region* which includes countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and the Sudan has cut measles deaths by a remarkable 90% -- from an estimated 96,000 to 10,000 -- during the same period, thus achieving the United Nations goal to reduce measles deaths by 90% by 2010, three years early.

The progress was announced today by the founding partners of the Measles Initiative: the American Red Cross, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). The data will be published in the 5 December edition of WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Record and CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"This achievement is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region to combat measles," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. "With only two years until the 2010 target date, I urge all countries affected by measles to intensify their efforts to immunize all children against the disease."

The significant decline in measles deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean region was the result of intensified vaccination campaigns including several countries with hard-to-reach areas. In 2007, more than twice the number of children were immunized in the region through such campaigns as compared to 2006.

"There are thousands of health workers and volunteers from our Red Cross and Red Crescent family who deserve much of the credit for this success. They give their time to literally go door-to-door informing, educating and motivating mothers and caregivers about the critical need to vaccinate their children," said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the Board of the American Red Cross. "This mobilization helps us to consistently reach more than 90% of the vulnerable population and save countless lives."

The African region was the largest contributor to the global decline in measles deaths, accounting for about 63% of the reduction in deaths worldwide over the eight-year period. In 2007, measles outbreaks occurred in a number of African countries due to gaps in immunization coverage, reinforcing the need to continue immunization support.

"It's absolutely wonderful that so many children are off to a healthy start in life thanks to the progress we've made in combating measles through immunization," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC Director. "Other children's lives are still at risk, however, so it's time we refocus our attention on sustaining our immunization efforts in countries where rates are low."

The progress in South-East Asia has been limited -- with just a 42% decline in measles deaths. This is due to the delayed implementation of large-scale vaccination campaigns in India, which currently accounts for two thirds of global measles deaths. Political commitment in India is essential if the 2010 global goal is to be achieved.

"The progress that has been made shows what can be achieved through measles vaccination campaigns, but much more needs to be done," said Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF. "It is a tragedy that measles still kills more than 500 children a day when there is a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine to prevent the disease."

The world's success in reaching the 2010 measles goal depends on ensuring that all children receive two doses of measles vaccine including one dose by their first birthday, strengthening disease surveillance systems, and providing effective treatment for measles.

"Progress also depends on addressing the considerable funding gap," said Kathy Calvin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the UN Foundation. "The shortfall stands at US $176 million for 2009-2010, of which US $35 million is urgently needed for 2009. With continued funding and increasing ownership and commitment of countries, we can sustain our progress and achieve our goal by 2010. We ask our supporters to stay with us and strongly encourage new supporters to join us in our effort to save lives."

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MCG Receives $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Innovative Global Health Research by Dr. Koni

The Medical College of Georgia announced November 5th that it has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will support an innovative global health research project conducted by Dr. Pandelakis A. Koni titled “Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Targeted Against HIV-1 Env Glycans.”

Dr. Koni’s project is one of 104 grants recently announced by the Gates Foundation for the first funding round of Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative to help scientists around the world explore bold, new solutions for health challenges in developing countries. The grants were provided to all levels of scientists in 22 countries and five continents.

To receive funding, Dr. Koni showed in a two-page application how his idea falls outside current scientific paradigms and could lead to significant advances in global health if successful.

His goal is to develop a vaccine against HIV, a virus that is notoriously slippery, constantly mutating itself to avoid being targeted by the immune system. In fact, the dynamic of this virus is one reason vaccines to date have failed, Dr. Koni said. But he thinks there may be chinks in the armor. Like many cells in the body, HIV and HIV-infected cells are sugar-coated. In fact, one role of this complex carbohydrate shield is believed to be protecting HIV from attack. However there are some consistencies in the sugar coating which Dr. Koni believes are critical to the virus and may be good vaccine targets.

As a first step, the immunologist is working to develop antibodies to these segments of the sugar coating with the idea that they are sites of potential vulnerability for the durable virus. "My idea is that these areas are always conserved and are consistent for a reason," said Dr. Koni. While his goal is to develop a protective vaccine, Dr. Koni said if he's successful in his pursuit, the antibodies may provide new targeted treatment strategies as well.

“I congratulate each individual who took the initiative to share their idea with us to help fight the world’s most serious diseases,” said Dr. Tachi Yamada, president of the Gates Foundation’s Global Health Program. “The number of creative approaches we received exceeded our highest aspirations. Projects from this initial pool of grants have the potential to transform health in developing countries, and I will be rooting for their success.”

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UGA's Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases to Host Global Health Research Symposium

The University of Georgia’s Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases will host an international research symposium, “Global Health through Research,” on Sept. 19 and 20 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel on the UGA campus. The symposium will be held in conjunction with the 18th Annual Molecular Parasitology/Vector Biology Symposium.

To recognize and help celebrate the center’s tenth anniversary, symposium organizers planned the event as an expanded version of their traditional annual meeting. The program will feature ten of the world’s most prominent researchers who study human parasites and the insect vectors that spread them.

“This will be an exciting conference packed with cutting-edge presentations from the best investigators in the field,” said Boris Striepen, a symposium organizer. “We are also eager to present the outstanding work of UGA students and postdoctoral researchers to this highly accomplished audience.”

Scheduled speakers will discuss a wide range of scientific issues, including how parasites conquer their hosts, secure nutrients, and outwit the immune system to cause deadly diseases. Wielding sophisticated tools of molecular biology and genome science, these researchers work to reveal the parasites’ tricks and to develop urgently needed drugs and vaccines. Diseases to be discussed include malaria, sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis and several other diseases associated with AIDS.

The Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases is a university-wide, interdisciplinary center established in 1998 to foster research, education and service related to tropical and emerging infectious diseases. Over the past decade CTEGD has grown into one of the nation’s preeminent institutes for tropical disease research. The center’s 18 members include faculty from eight UGA departments and four colleges. The center also benefits from the participation of adjunct faculty from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

by Helen Fosgate
University of Georgia

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