In all fairness...this statistic on its own doesn't tell the whole story. We really need to know more about which people died (what countries) and if they died of complications, or if they died because of inadequate health care, or what.
That sounds more cold that I meant it too, but statistics can say pretty much anything you want them to, if you don't look at the whole picture.
Inside the story above, you see that all of those infected are recovering.
That's a very good point, cuppycake, and I'm quoting from the WHO fact sheet.
Revised November 2007
Measles
Key facts
Measles remains a leading cause of death among young children, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine for the past 40 years.
In 2006, it was estimated that there were 242 000 measles deaths globally: this translates to about 663 deaths every day or 27 deaths every hour.
The overwhelming majority (more than 95%) of measles deaths occur in countries with per capita Gross National Income of less than US$ 1000 and weak health infrastructure.
Immunization prevents suffering, complications and death caused by measles. The measles vaccine is safe, effective and inexpensive.
Vaccination has had a major impact on measles deaths. Overall, global measles mortality decreased by 68% between 2000 and 2006. The largest gains occurred in Africa where measles cases and deaths fell by 91%.
Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) calls on countries to reduce global measles deaths by 90% by 2010 compared to 2000 estimates. WHO and UNICEF have developed a comprehensive strategy to sustainably reduce measles deaths.
Measles remains a leading cause of death among young children, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine for the past 40 years. An estimated 242 000 people, the majority of them children, died from measles in 2006, the latest year for which figures are available.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. Almost all non-immune children contract this respiratory disease if exposed to the virus. Measles is an acute illness caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. Measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and in the cells that line the lungs. It is a human disease not known to occur in animals.
Vaccination has had a major impact on measles deaths. From 2000 to 2006, an estimated 478 million children aged nine months to 14 years received measles vaccine through supplementary immunization activities in 46 out of the 47 priority countries with the highest burden of measles. These accelerated activities have resulted in a significant reduction in estimated global measles deaths. Overall, global measles mortality decreased by 68% between 2000 and 2006. The largest gains occurred in Africa where measles cases and deaths fell by 91%.
Signs and symptoms
The first sign of infection is usually high fever, which begins approximately 10 to 12 days after exposure and lasts one to seven days. During the initial stage, the patient may develop a runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeks. After several days, a rash develops, usually on the face and upper neck. Over a period of about three days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet. The rash lasts for five to six days, then fades. The rash occurs, on average, at day 14 after exposure to the virus, with a range of seven to 18 days.
Complications
Measles is often an unpleasant mild or moderately severe illness. Severe measles is particularly likely in poorly nourished young children, especially those who do not receive sufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases.
Children usually do not die directly of measles, but from its complications. Complications are more common in children under the age of five or adults over the age of 20.
The most serious complications include blindness, encephalitis (a dangerous infection of the brain causing inflammation), severe diarrhoea (possibly leading to dehydration), ear infections and severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death associated with measles. Encephalitis is estimated to occur in one out of 1000 cases, while otitis media (middle ear infection) is reported in 5-15% of cases and pneumonia in 5-10% of cases. The case fatality rate in developing countries is generally in the range of 1 to 5%, but may be as high as 25% in populations with high levels of malnutrition and poor access to health care. People who recover from measles are immune for the rest of their lives.
People most at risk
Un-immunized young children are at highest risk for measles and its complications, including death. However, any person who has not been immunized with vaccine or through experiencing the disease can become infected.
Measles can be particularly deadly in countries experiencing or recovering from war, civil strife or a natural disaster. Infection rates soar because damage to infrastructure and health services interrupts routine immunization and overcrowding in camps for refugees and internally displaced people greatly increases the risk of infection.
Transmission
The highly contagious measles virus is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions., Measles tends to result in epidemics which may cause many deaths,
especially among young malnourished children.
The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours. It can be transmitted by an infected individual from four days prior to the onset of the rash to four days after the onset. If one person has the disease, a high proportion of their susceptible close contacts will also become infected.
Treatment
Severe complications can be avoided. General nutritional support and the treatment of dehydration with oral rehydration solution are necessary. Antibiotics should be prescribed for treating eye and ear infections and pneumonia. To improve survival, it is important that children with measles receive adequate nutrition and fluids.
All children in developing countries diagnosed with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements given 24 hours apart. This can help prevent eye damage and blindness. Moreover, vitamin A supplementation has been shown to reduce the number of deaths from measles by 50%.
Disease and mortality burden
While measles is now rare in many industrialized countries, it remains a common illness in many developing countries. More than 20 million people are affected each year by measles. In 2006, it was estimated that there were 242 000 measles deaths globally: this translates to about 663 deaths every day or 27 deaths every hour. The overwhelming majority ( more than 95%) of measles deaths occur in countries with per capita Gross National Income of less than US$ 1000 and weak health infrastructure. The primary reason for continuing high childhood measles morbidity and mortality is the failure to deliver at least one dose of measles vaccine to all infants.
In countries where measles has been largely eliminated, cases imported from other countries remain an important source of infection.
Table 1: Estimated number of deaths, with ranges*, by WHO region, 2006
Africa 36,000 [26 000 - 49 000]
Americas <1000* [-]
Eastern Mediterranean 23,000 [16 000 - 34 000]
European <1000* [-]
South-East Asia 178,000 [128 000 - 234 000]
Western Pacific 5,000 [3000 - 7000]
TOTAL 242,000 [173 000 - 325 000]
* At low incidence levels the model is not precise and surveillance data indicate less than 1000 deaths.
And so on...
If we had the same kind of low vaccination rates in America, we would be having the same kinds of outbreaks, even if the deaths weren't substantial. Why risk the population when there is a safe and effective vaccine that can so easily prevent the disease?
