title: Epidemiology and prevention of measles.
abstract: Measles is a highly contagious viral illness which once affected more than 95% of persons in the United States. Since licensure of a safe and highly effective vaccine, measles incidence has fallen to less than 1% of prevaccination levels. A relative resurgence of measles during 1989-1991, however, focused attention on the need to maintain high immunization levels, particularly among preschool-aged children in urban areas. Improved vaccine coverage levels and a second-dose strategy to eliminate susceptibilities resulting from vaccine failure can help achieve the goal of elimination of indigenous measles from the United States by 1996.
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine