For the first time, fewer than 100,000 people around the world died from measles in a year. New data published today by the partners of the Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI) shows an 84% drop in measles deaths globally from 2000-2016, a major milestone in the fight against this preventable disease.

Global measles vaccine coverage has stalled at 85% since 2009.

The world must work together, redoubling our efforts to make sure every child, everywhere receives two doses of the measles vaccine to end this disease for good. Health workers need more tools and training. Vaccines need stronger cold chain infrastructure to guarantee they arrive safely to those who need them. National health systems need additional financial and technical support to better detect and respond to outbreaks and reach all children with two doses of measles-containing vaccines through routine systems.

Read the source article on the Fight Against Measles by Kate Dodson at United Nations Foundation