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Other Infectious Diseases

New knowledge and tools in the fight against infectious diseases - like polio and neglected tropical diseases - are saving millions of lives and empowering people to build better futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.

  • Due to vaccination programmes between 2000 and 2010, measles deaths worldwide fell by 74%.

    Fact: Due to vaccination programmes between 2000 and 2010, measles deaths worldwide fell by 74%.

    In sub-Saharan Africa, measles deaths dropped by 85% during the same period.

  • We are close to wiping out guinea worm

    Fact: We are close to wiping out guinea worm

    This disease has been eliminated in all but four countries, and cases have been reduced from almost 624,000 cases in 1990 to fewer than 1,100 cases in 2011. 97% of remaining cases are located in South Sudan

  • We are nearing the eradication of polio

    Fact: We are nearing the eradication of polio

    Since 1988, roughly 2.5 billion children worldwide have been vaccinated against polio. In the same period, the global number of polio cases has been reduced by more than 99%