title: Efficacy of measles and rubella vaccination one year after the nationwide campaign in Shiraz, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization target for measles elimination in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was established in 2010. In Iran, the national measles-rubella campaign, targeting individuals aged 5-25 years, was initiated in December 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the impact of the campaign after one year, 909 serum samples were collected in Shiraz, southern Iran, from a population aged 6-26 years, divided into five groups according to age. IgG antibodies were tested using ELISA for the measles and rubella antibodies, and the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT; measles) was used for samples with equivocal results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measles protective immunity reached 80.6%, 72.7%, 84.9%, and 87.5% and rubella immunity reached 91.0%, 99.6%, 99.6%, and 97.0% for the age groups 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 20-26 years, respectively. Seropositivity to the rubella virus in this population was high, especially in women of childbearing age (98.9%), thereby preventing congenital rubella infections. However for measles, it was significantly lower than the rate required to achieve >or=95% coverage for elimination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that an increase in immunization coverage by supplementary administration of a second dose of measles vaccine is needed to interrupt the endemic transmission of the measles virus.
authors.affiliation: Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. bpourabbas@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bahman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pourabbas
authors.forename: Mazyar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziyaeyan
authors.forename: Abdolvahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alborzi
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mardaneh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine