This study maps the incidences of several infectious diseases which contribute significantly to death and disabilities in the world's population, particularly in children. The diseases considered in this study are measles, polio, diptheria and pertussis. Other factors such as immunization coverage, life expectancy, infant mortality and GDP are considered as well. Despite the fact that great strides have been made in medical technologies in the past 100 years, there are many countries that still contend with infectious diseases at high levels. Vaccinations and immunization against many of these diseases have been very effective, and some have been eradicated in the industrialized world.
Smallpox is the only disease that has been completely eradicated.
Polio has been eradicated from the Americas, continental Europe, the Western Pacific and much of the Middle East and most of northern and eastern Africa. The total number of untreated polio in the developing countries of the world is probably several million. Measles is a highly contagious infection of the respiratory system caused by the measles virus. About one million children die from measles each year. Even countries that have achieved high levels of measles vaccination coverage and have recorded several years of low incidence frequently have experienced large measles outbreaks.