Biological feasibility of measles eradication

Because of the success of global measles control programs, the World Health Organization (WHO), along with its partner agencies, is once again considering the possibility of setting a target date for measles eradication. Measles would be the fourth viral agent to be eradicated joining the successful programs to eradicate smallpox and rinderpest virus, and the continuing effort to eradicate polio virus. A description of the recent progress toward measles eradication was recently published as a supplement in the Journal of Infectious Diseases (15 July, 2011, 204 (Suppl. 1)) and the reader is referred to this document for a detailed summary of the global status of measles control. This review will focus on the biologic and virologic aspects of measles eradication.