Worldwide, measles still kills 400 people every day, more than 90% of them being under-fives. Three out of four deaths happen in India, India’s progress in measles control is a major determining factor in global control of measles. Prevention of measles deaths is key to achieve millennium development goal 4; that is to reduce under-five mortality by two thirds by 2015. There is limited literature available on measles epidemiology in India. No measles surveillance was done before 2006. Built on an existing flaccid paralysis surveillance system, a measles surveillance programme was launched in four southern states of India in 2006, among them Karnataka. The objectives of this work is to describe the epidemiology of measles in Karnataka and to identify ways to improve measles control in the state.
Download publication
