Trend Ageing spreading to the Global South as life expectancy rises

Summary

The report records major successes against infectious disease over recent decades. Smallpox was fully eradicated in 1980 through a worldwide vaccination programme, polio remains endemic in only a few countries, and expanded vaccination against measles, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and hepatitis B saves millions of children every year. As a result child mortality and disease burden have fallen, especially in the Global South, and longer life expectancy means ageing is spreading beyond the West to countries such as Brazil, China, Thailand and Indonesia. With ageing under way in so many countries, the disease burden is shifting from acute, treatable conditions toward long-term non-communicable diseases. The report adds that older people often suffer from several conditions at the same time.