World eradication of measles.

From a theoretical and technical point of view, measles can be eradicated from the world. This disease has been eliminated for a period of years from at least one country in the developing world (The Gambia). Experience in the United States indicates that it will be eliminated from that country in the near future. Whether the necessary financial, political, and personnel resources to achieve global eradication can be mobilized in the next several years remains in doubt.