In 1969, David Morley emphasised the high mortality rates from measles in west Africa and other countries. He predicted an increase in speculation about the possibility of measles eradication, and concluded that eradication programmes were likely to be successful only if built on a foundation of effective child-care services that are available to the whole community. Speculation about measles eradication has continued, most recently at a WHO meeting on measles in which a concluding statement encouraged a 2020 target for measles eradication.3"6 This conclusion will now be submitted to WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, which could make a recommendation to WHO's Director-General for measles eradication. We call attention to concerns about beginning another immunisation-based eradication initiative at this time, especially about the potential of such an initiative to weaken political engagement and resource mobilisation for poliomyelitis eradication. A broader concern is that any eventual strategy for measles eradication should truly strengthen routine immunisation and should not become a substitute.
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