Geneva  - Measles deaths fell by 74 per cent globally between 2000 and 2007, with countries in the eastern Mediterranean region cutting the death rate by 90 per cent, the United Nations reported Thursday.

The Arab states and other countries in the bloc, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia, made the "remarkable" progress thanks to immunization programmes.

Margaret Chan, the head of the World Health Organization, called on all states affected by the disease to step up efforts to immunize children in order to meet the UN's goal of cutting measles deaths by 90 percent by 2010.

Africa also managed to reduce the death toll by 63 per cent during the reporting period. Outbreaks of the virus last year were attributed to gaps in immunization coverage.

Worldwide, measles death fell from 750,000 in the year 2000 to about 197,000 in 2007, according to estimates.

The UN agencies involved in the immunization programmes warned that funding shortfalls could curtail future efforts to combat the preventable deaths. (dpa)