Due to immunosuppression during a measles infection, the risk of acquiring respiratory infections and diarrhea is increased. This can lead to death among children with poor nutrition status.
After measles vaccination programmes were started, death rates due to measles have dropped by 85 %. Irregularities in the vaccination programmes or the lack of implementation of such a program can lead to the outbreak of measles. This has fatal consequences as it is highly contaguous.
Vitamin A deficiency increases the risk of dying from measles.
Supplementation with vitamin A in areas with vitamin A shortage has reduced mortality from measles by 50 %.
