Measles Elimination — Using Outbreaks to Identify and Close Immunity Gaps

The Americas are on the eve of being formally verified as having eliminated endemic measles after the successful interruption of the transmission of measles in Brazil. 1 This achievement provides empirical proof of the conclusion reached by an expert advisory committee, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010, that “global measles eradication is biologically, technically and operationally feasible.” 2 To capitalize on this opportunity for global good, the Global Vaccine Action Plan enthusiastically targets the elimination of measles and rubella in at least five WHO regions by 2020. 3 All six WHO regions have established goals to eliminate measles by 2020 . . .