Measles - United States, 1988

Article Abstract:

Despite a policy of routine vaccination of all children, 3,411 cases of measles, the highly contagious childhood disease, were reported in the United States in 1988. Reported complications accompanying children infected with the measles virus were otitis media, an ear infection (5.4 percent), diarrhea (3.8 percent) and encephalitis, inflammation of the brain (0.1 percent). There were 368 hospitalizations and three deaths reported. Most contracted the infection while in schools or universities. A total of 1,548 patients (45.5 percent) had been vaccinated by the end of their first year while 54.6 percent had not ever been vaccinated. Unvaccinated children, mostly aged 12-19 years old and living in the inner city, and vaccine failure, combine to prevent total elimination of measles. A two-dose vaccination schedule and intensive efforts to raise age-appropriate immunization levels is recommended to reduce measles infections resulting from vaccine failure.

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Measles - United States, First 26 weeks, 1989

Article Abstract:

Measles cases in the United States provisionally numbered 7,335 for the first 26 weeks of 1989, a 380 percent increase over the same period in 1988. Ten confirmed measles deaths were reported, with an additional 30 possible measles fatalities being investigated; this is the highest rate of measles fatalities since 1971. Although lack of vaccination is a significant factor, especially in preschool children and the adult cases reported, over half the measles cases occurred in appropriately vaccinated children in the 5-19 age group. It is believed that this represents primary vaccine failure rather than a waning of acquired immunity. Although the immediate goal in a measles outbreak is to assure that all susceptible individuals have had at least one immunization, ultimately the goal is to institute a program of routine two-dose immunization in all communities. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention

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Measles - United States, 1995

Article Abstract:

The number of measles cases in the US in 1995 reached its lowest point since records began in 1912. The 301 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention represented a 69% decrease from the 963 cases reported in 1994. Eighty-nine percent of the cases occurred within the US. Over half the young children with measles whose vaccination status was known had not been vaccinated. Of those who had been vaccinated, 89% got their first dose on or near their first birthday and 33% to 50% received a second dose. A substantial percentage of older children and teenagers had not been vaccinated. Thirty-nine percent of the measles cases in 1995 occurred in people 20 years or older, up from 24% in 1994. Despite the low incidence of measles cases from outside the US, gene sequencing of several viral isolates reveals that they are similar to viral isolates in Europe and Japan.

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