Measles Bulletin
The Measles Bulletin, issued by Western Pacific Regional Office of WHO shares information and reports progress on measles elimination activities in the Western Pacific Region. Timely articles focus on current activities and experiences with measles elimination efforts. In addition, the Measles Bulletin provides updated country-specific surveillance information such as the number of reported suspected and confirmed measles cases, and measles incidence rate. The Measles Bulletin is available from this website and is also distributed by email.

Global Reductions in Measles Mortality 2000-2008 and the Risk of Measles Resurgence, WER Vol. 84, 49
At the Sixty-first World Health Assembly in 2008, all WHO Member States reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a 90% reduction in measles mortality by 2010 compared with 2000. Using a natural history model to estimate the number of measles deaths, WHO estimates that from 2000 to 2008, the number of measles deaths decreased by 92% in the Western Pacific Region and 78% globally. Approximately 12.7 million measles deaths were averted worldwide during this period as a result of routine and supplementary immunization activities. If the strategy to accelerate reductions in measles mortality cannot be sustained, global measles mortality will increase, resulting in a slowing down of progress towards reaching Millennium Development Goal 4.

Measles Vaccines - WHO Position Paper
This revised WHO position paper on measles vaccines published in the Weekly Epidemiologic Record in August 2009 replaces the corresponding paper published in March 2004. Updated topics addressed in the position paper include optimal age for MCV1, intervals between periodic SIAs, introduction of routine MCV2, optimal timing of routine administration of MCV2, criteria for stopping follow up SIAs, measles vaccination of HIV-positive individuals, measles outbreak response, and vaccine safety surveillance.

Western Pacific Regional Plan of Action for Measles Elimination
Central to this Regional Plan is a strategy for providing a second opportunity for measles immunization. A single dose of measles vaccine protects about only 85% of children, but 95% of the population must be immune to stop transmission. A second dose, given after the age of one year, will protect 99% of children. Therefore, to eliminate measles, children must have a second opportunity that reaches practically every child.

Field Guidelines for Measles Elimination
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that remains a leading cause of death among children in the Western Pacific Region. Therefore, the Western Pacific Region is now moving towards measles elimination. These guidelines provide guidance for countries to implement the Western Pacific Regional Plan of Action for Measles Elimination as urged by the 2003 Regional Committee Meeting.

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