Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “MEASLES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

A 24-year review on the epidemiology and control of measles in Singapore, 1981-2004.

The objective of our paper is to review the epidemiology of measles in Singapore and the impact of the measles vaccination program on the control of measles. Our review will form the basis for a critical appraisal of our future measles control program. We analyzed the trend of reported measles cases in relationship to measles vaccination coverage from 1981 to 2004 using routine measles notifications and measles vaccination data submitted to the Ministry of Health and the National Immunization Registry, respectively. We determined the measles vaccine efficacy using data from epidemiological investigations of reported institutional measles outbreaks. The herd immunity of the population against measles was accessed through three seroepidemiological surveys that we conducted in 1989/1990, 1993 and 1998. In addition, we collected blood specimens from every clinically diagnosed case of measles notified to the Ministry in 1998/1999 to for measles-specific IgM antibodies in order to evaluate the proportion of clinically diagnosed cases of measles that were laboratory confirmed. The incidence of measles has decreased significantly since 1981 as a result of increased vaccination coverage of 89-93% following implementation of compulsory measles vaccination in 1985. However, resurgences still occurred in 1992/1993 and 1997. With the implementation of the two-dose measles vaccination schedule, the annual number of laboratory confirmed cases of measles to date has been less than 150. Vaccine efficacy of the trivalent MMR vaccine based on institutional outbreak investigations was consistently above 92%. We also found that the overall seroprevalence of the population to measles has decreased from approximately 91.5% in 1989/1990 to 1993 to 77.9% in 1998 (mainly in children < 4 years old) and that only 7% of clinically notified cases of measles were serologically confirmed to be positive for measles. Achieving a vaccination coverage of more than 95%, tightening our MMR vaccine delivery system and strengthening surveillance of measles are essential components which must be addressed in order to interrupt measles transmission in Singapore.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Measles eradication: recommendations from a meeting cosponsored by the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and CDC.

Recent successes in interrupting indigenous transmission of measles virus in the Americas and in the United Kingdom prompted the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and CDC to convene a meeting in July, 1996 to consider the feasibility of global measles eradication. Presentations at the meeting included an overview of global measles control and elimination efforts; detailed reviews of successful measles elimination efforts in Latin America, the English-speaking Caribbean, Canada, and the United States; surveillance for clinical disease; laboratory tools for antibody detection and virus identification; and other factors that might influence the feasibility of disease eradication. With this background information, meeting organizers asked participants to address five questions: 1) Is global measles eradication feasible? 2) Is measles eradication feasible with current vaccines? 3) What are the appropriate vaccination strategies for measles eradication? 4) How should surveillance for measles be carried out? 5) What role should outbreak control play in the strategy to eliminate measles? Participants agreed that measles eradication is technically feasible with available vaccines and recommended adoption of the goal of global eradication with a target date during 2005-2010, with the proviso that measles eradication efforts should not interfere with poliomyelitis eradication but should build on the successes of the global Poliomyelitis Eradication Initiative. Although existing vaccines are adequate for eradication, vaccination strategies that rely on administration of a single dose of vaccine are not. In the Americas, sustained interruption of indigenous measles virus transmission has been achieved through a three-tiered vaccination strategy that includes a) "catch-up" vaccination of all persons aged 1-14 years, regardless of disease history or vaccination status; b) "keep-up" vaccination of > or = 90% of children in each successive birth cohort at age 12 months and c) "follow-up" campaigns designed to vaccinate all persons within a specific age range whenever the number of susceptible persons in the preschool-aged population approximates the size of a typical birth cohort (in practice, every 3-5 years). In other regions, different strategies may be optimal. Surveillance, a critical component of any strategy to eliminate or eradicate measles, has two functions: to assess the effectiveness of the measles elimination strategy and to detect circulation of measles virus in a population. Systematic surveillance based on clinical diagnosis should be implemented early in any measles elimination program. In countries attempting to eliminate indigenous measles, all isolated cases of measles and at least one case in each chain of transmission should be confirmed by laboratory tests. Specimens for virus isolation (e.g., urine, nasopharyngeal swabs, or blood) should be collected in conjunction with field investigations. Vaccination campaigns generally have not proved to be effective responses to measles outbreaks. Outbreaks should be treated as opportunities to reinforce surveillance and to identify measures to prevent future outbreaks. The major obstacles to measles eradication are not technical but perceptual, political, and financial. Measles is often mistakenly perceived as a mild illness. This misperception, which is particularly prevalent in industrialized countries, can inhibit the development of public and political support for the allocation of resources required for an effective elimination effort. The disease burden imposed by measles should be documented, particularly in industrialized countries, so that this information can be used to educate parents, medical practitioners, public health workers, and political leaders about the benefits of measles eradication.

Disease Outbreaks↗