Measles: Millions of children in danger

Half a million children could die of measles in 2013, against 164,000 in 2008, when countries relax the pressure on this highly contagious disease, warned on Thursday the World Health Organization (WHO).

"This will mean that all the progress that has been achieved so far will be lost," warned Dr. Okwo-Bele, Director of the WHO Department of Immunization, at a press conference.

Experts from the WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) fear that the combined effects of reduced political and financial commitments would lead to 1.7 million deaths related to measles between 2010 and 2013, with over half a million deaths in 2013 alone.

In 2008 the disease killed 164,000 children, or 78% less than in 2000 due to progress in almost all regions of the world.

WHO and UNICEF are especially concerned about the disease situation in Southeast Asia.

"Despite the progress, measles continues to kill and the poorest countries continue to pay the highest price," said the executive director of Unicef, Ann Veneman.

Among the poorest countries, India is the one who pays the heavy price for the disease. Approximately three quarters of children who died from measles in 2008 were Indian children.

The measles, a contagious eruptive fever which affects the enormous number of children worldwide, can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, and even death.

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