Progress toward measles elimination — African Region, 2013–2016

What is already known about this topic? In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage in countries of the WHO African Region (AFR) to be 73% and >90% in 13 (28%) of 46 AFR countries. Among 35 measles supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) conducted during 2011–2012, 23 (66%) had >95% administrative coverage. Nineteen (44%) countries met the two key surveillance performance indicator targets. In 2012, only 16 (37%) countries met the incidence target of <5 cases per 1 million population. What is added by this report? In 2015, WHO-UNICEF estimated MCV1 coverage in AFR to be 74%; seven (15%) countries reported ≥95% MCV1 coverage. Among 52 measles SIAs conducted during 2013–2016, 41 (79%) reported ≥95% administrative coverage. In 2016, 19 (40%) countries met both surveillance performance indicator targets. In 2016, only 15 (32%) countries met the target of <1 case per 1 million population. What are the implications for public health practice? To eliminate measles by 2020, AFR countries need to achieve high (95%) 2-dose measles vaccination coverage, through introduction of a second MCV dose into routine immunization programs, increasing routine immunization coverage, improving SIA quality, fully implementing elimination-standard surveillance, conducting annual district-level risk assessments, and establishing national verification committees and a regional commission for the verification of measles elimination.