Each year a disease that has been eliminated in the Western Hemisphere kills nearly 454,000 people globally. Of those, 410,000 are children under the age of five. Since 2001 deaths globally have been reduced by 74% largely due to the Measles Initiative. Measles is a leading vaccine-preventable childhood killer in the world. Millions of children still remain at risk from measles and many children, particularly under the age of five, will die from it. There is good news. Measles can be easily prevented with a simple vaccination that costs less than one dollar per child.

 As of the end of 2008, the Measles Initiative has vaccinated over 250 million children in more than 40 African countries, saving more than 3.6 million lives. Because of the Measles Initiative’s success in Africa, the program has expanded into Asia, where the measles burden remains high.

Launched in February 2001, the Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths starting in Africa by vaccinating at-risk children 15 years old and younger. Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and countries and governments affected by measles.

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