Measles resurgence in southern Africa: Challenges to measles elimination

In seven southern African countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe), following implementation of a measles mortality reduction strategy starting in 1996, the number of annually reported measles cases decreased sharply to less than one per million population during 2006–2008. However, during 2009–2010, large outbreaks occurred in these countries. In 2011, a goal for measles elimination by 2020 was set in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region (AFR). The researchers reviewed the implementation of the measles control strategy and measles epidemiology during the resurgence in the seven southern African countries.