The Americas has become the first region in the world to be free of measles, following a 22-year vaccination drive against the disease, which continues to infect tens of thousands of people globally, the Pan American Health Organization said on Tuesday.

The milestone was confirmed after no cases of the highly contagious disease originating in the Americas were recorded in at least three years, the PAHO said.

"This is truly a historic deed," said Carissa Etienne, director of the PAHO, which serves as the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office for the Americas.