How effective is the current strategy of measles vaccination?
A. The current two-dose strategy has been very effective. Both epidemiologic and laboratory evidence suggest the transmission of indigenous measles was interrupted the United States for the first time during 1993. During1997, the latest year for which data are available, there was a provisional total of only 135 confirmed measles cases. This is the lowest number of cases ever. Even though indigenous measles transmission has been virtually eliminated, measles cases caused by importation of the virus from other countries continue to occur. A total of 57 of the 135 (42 per cent) measles cases reported in 1997 were documented as international importations, primarily from Europe and Asia. Q. Why should we still vaccinate against measles when cases are so uncommon? A. Although the number of measles cases in the United States is at an all-time low, there continues to be substantial measles activity throughout the Americas and the remainder of the world. Between January 1997 and February 1998,
