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The Americas are Now Measles-Free
The Americas has become the first region ∈ the world to be free of measles, following a 22-year vaccination drive against the disease which continues to infect tens of thousands of people globally, the Pan American Health Organization said on Tuesday.
The milestone was confirmed after no cases of the highly contagious disease originating ∈ the Americas were recorded ∈ at least three years, the PAHO said.
"This is truly a historic deed," said Carissa Etienne, director of the PAHO, which serves as the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office for the Americas.
Globally, measles remains a leading cause of death among young children ∈ the developing world. About 250,000 people were infected with measles last year, most ∈Africa and Asia, the PAHO said.
According to the WHO, the virus that can lead to deadly complications like diarrhea, dehydration, respiratory infection and encephalitis kills an estimated 314 people every day.
The last outbreak of measles that originated ∈ the Americas occurred ∈Venezuela ∈2002, PAHO said. But the region was only declared free of measles this year.
Justin Lessler, an epidemiology expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health ∈Baltimore, said imported cases of measles - which remains widespread ∈ other parts of the world - could still lead to small outbreaks ∈ the Americas. "People still need to be vaccinated to maintain elimination," he said.
Before a separate, worldwide vaccination drive against measles began ∈ the 1980s, the disease caused 2.6 million deaths a year worldwide - 12,000 of them ∈ the Americas, according to PAHO.
Measles is the fifth vaccine-preventable disease to be eliminated ∈ the Americas - after smallpox ∈1971, poliomyelitis ∈1994, and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome ∈2015, the PAHO said.
Adaptado de: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/theamericas-are-now-measles-free/ Acessado em 15 de setembro de 2016.
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