Routine vaccination has considerably decreased global measles incidence and mortality, although less dramatically in Asia and many other developing countries.  Molecular epidemiology is considered a powerful tool to enhance measles control and elimination.  Based on sequence variability mainly of the H and N gene, measles virus strains are classified in 22 genotypes.  Sequence information from the Asian continent was very limited until recently, and is still missing from a number of countries.  During the past five years six new genotypes were found in Asia: D8 (Nepal), D9 (Indonesia), G2(Indonesia, Malaysia), G3 (East Timor), H1 (China), H2(Vietnam). High strain diversity in a number of countries like India, Nepal, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea suggests continued endemic transmission of the putative indigenous strains.  Several rounds of genotype displacement (C1, D3, D5) reported since the early eighties from Japan reflect progress towards measles elimination.  Some genotypes circulate in a more or less confined geographical region (e.g. H1, H2 in China and Vietnam) whereas others are found on most continents (e.g. D4, D6).  The recurrent isolation of clade A strains, virtually identical to vaccine strains, in different Asian countries is conspicuous.  Intensified control and vaccination efforts are required to move Asia away from endemic transmission.