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A boy cries as he recuperates after surgery during "Operation Smile" at a hospital in Manila's Makati financial district October 26, 2009. Operation Smile aim to provide free surgery for about a hundred children inflicted with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities over a period of five days in Makati. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo

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    FACTBOX: Measles is highly contagious viral disease

    Thu Dec 4, 2008 10:59am EST

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

    Health

    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)
    Health


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