The Role of Vaccines in Elimination and Global Eradication of Measles: a Review of Literature
African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 3(9) pp. 413-425, September, 2009 Available online http://www.academicjournals.org/ajpp ISSN 1996-0816 © 2009 Academic Journals Review The role of vaccines in elimination and global eradication of measles: A review of literature I. O. Okonko1*, B. A. Onoja1, A. O. Adedeji2, A. A. Ogun3, A. O. Udeze4, J. Ejembi5, K. N. Garba1, O. C. Egun6 and A. Fowotade7 1Department of Virology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 2Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 3Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics and Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 4Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. 5Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. 6Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. 7Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Accepted 23 July, 2009 This review summarizes the role of vaccines in elimination and global eradication of measles-a review of literature. Measles eradication is defined as the interruption of measles transmission worldwide as a result of deliberate efforts; intervention methods may no longer be needed. It represents the sum of successful elimination efforts in all countries. Indeed, measles transmission has been interrupted in several countries, reinforcing the view that measles eradication is technically feasible using existing vaccines, laboratory techniques and intervention strategies. However, measles still accounts for 10% of global mortality from all causes among children aged less than 5 years (That is, approximately 1 million deaths annually).
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