During the Forty-first Session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (1997), the Regional Committee passed a resolution to eliminate measles by the year 2010. In 1999, EMRO developed a five-year plan for measles elimination based on the the WHO-UNICEF joint strategy for measles mortality reduction. This plan has evolved over time and includes the following key elements:

• Strengthening routine infant immunization and achieving

• >90% coverage MCV1 in all districts

• Conducting catch-up supplementary immunization activities for all susceptible age groups

• Achieving high coverage (>90%) with a second dose of measles vaccine either through:

• supplementary immunization activities or

• inclusion of a 2nd measles dose in the EPI schedule

• Strengthening surveillance for measles

• Optimal case management for children with measles