FACTBOX: Measles is highly contagious viral disease

(Reuters) - New figures released on Thursday by global health officials showed dramatic declines in worldwide measles deaths since 2000.

Following are some facts about measles.

* Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family that triggers a respiratory infection that can lead to sometimes deadly complications.

* An estimated 90 percent of unvaccinated people who contact a measles patient may become infected.

* Measles is easily passed from one person to another when someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, putting infected droplets into the air or on onto surfaces.

* Most people killed by measles are children under age 5.

* Since 1963, a vaccine has been available to prevent measles.

* A concerted effort to get children vaccinated globally has reduced measles deaths from 750,000 in 2000 to 197,000 in 2007.

(Editing by Maggie Fox)