title: Measles epidemics in Kerman City, Iran.
abstract: In early 1990 an outbreak of measles occurred in Kerman City (population 257,284), Iran. Overall 745 cases were identified, four of whom died (case fatality ratio was 5.4 per thousand). Illness was limited, primarily, to children below 15 years of age: 166 (22.3%) cases were in children under five years, 573 (77%) in those aged between five and 14 years and six (0.8%) were above 15 years of age. The age of the cases ranged from 5 months to 35 years. The age-specific attack rates were 3.9, 1.8, 7.3 and 2.8 per 1,000 for children under 1, 1-4, 5-9 and 10-14 years of age respectively. Overall 14 (1.9%) children with measles were hospitalized for severe complications which consisted mainly of pneumonia, otitis and gastroenteritis. Based on 745 cases with available immunization records, vaccine efficacy was calculated at 88% indicating a slight problem with the cold chain or vaccine. The outbreak was primarily related to low immunization coverage during the last 10 years and indicates the need to improve vaccine coverage with the AIK-C existing vaccine. It also highlights the urgent need for an effective single-dose measles vaccine (Edmondson-Zagreb) for children below nine months of age.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Janghorbani
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Daie Parizi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ghorbani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine