Benjamin Disraeli: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
The WHO is overseeing efforts to eliminate measles worldwide through immunisation and surveillance strategies.21 In 2000, measles was the fifth leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. There were an estimated 770 000 deaths, with more than half of these occurring in Africa.2,22 Following extensive vaccination campaigns, there was a 78% reduction to 164 000 deaths worldwide in 2008, with the majority of deaths reported in Southeast Asia.23
