I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Health
Report.
Measles is an infection of the breathing system.
The cause is a virus. It spreads through the air when infected people cough or
sneeze. Measles spreads very easily.
Deaths from measles are often the result of related infections like pneumonia
or severe diarrhea. Those who survive can suffer
brain damage, blindness or other disabilities.
The most recent estimate is that measles led to more than four hundred fifty
thousand deaths in 2004. Most who die are children under the age of five. And
the highest numbers are in southern Africa.
Measles is now rare in wealthier countries where parents usually have their
children vaccinated against the disease. But it is still common in many
developing countries. The World Health Organization says more than thirty
million people are affected each year.
Experts say weak vaccination programs are the main reason. They say almost
all children who have not been vaccinated will get measles if they come in
contact with the virus. This is especially true if a person has not had enough
vitamin A or has a weakened defense system.
There has been a vaccine against measles for the past forty years. Still,
measles remains the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths around the
world. But there is good news. A new report says an international campaign
reduced measles deaths by almost half between 1999 and 2004.
During that time, it says, almost five hundred million children in
forty-seven countries were vaccinated.
The report is from the World Health Organization and the United Nations
Children’s Fund, UNICEF. It says countries in southern Africa had the largest
reduction: cases and deaths fell an estimated 60 percent.
The Measles Initiative was launched in February of 2001. The international
program is expanding technical and financial support to countries in South Asia.
They have the highest numbers of measles deaths outside of southern Africa.
The W.H.O. says children in developing countries who get measles should
receive two doses of vitamin A. These are given twenty-four hours apart. They
can help prevent eye damage and improve chances of survival.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. Read and
listen to our reports at voaspecialenglish.com. I’m Steve Ember.
measles : 麻疹
diarrhea
: 痢疾
